Squinting Modifier by Solomon Osuokam Ogbeh

A squinting modifier is a type of misplaced modifier that causes ambiguity in a sentence. It is a word or phrase that could modify either the element before it or the element after it, leaving the meaning of the sentence unclear. In writing, clarity is crucial, and squinting modifiers can lead to confusion for the reader. This lesson will help students understand what squinting modifiers are, how to identify them, and how to correct them.

Understanding Squinting Modifiers

A modifier is a word or phrase that provides additional information about another word or phrase in a sentence. For instance, in the sentence, "Ade quickly finished his homework," the word "quickly" modifies the verb "finished," telling us how Ade completed his homework. When a modifier is placed ambiguously between two elements, it becomes a squinting modifier.

Consider the sentence: "Reading novels often improves vocabulary." The modifier "often" is placed between "reading novels" and "improves vocabulary." It is unclear whether "often" modifies "reading novels" (suggesting that reading novels frequently improves vocabulary) or "improves vocabulary" (suggesting that reading novels improves vocabulary frequently).

Identifying Squinting Modifiers

To identify squinting modifiers, look for modifiers placed between two clauses or phrases that could logically modify either one. Here are some examples:

1. "Yemi said after the meeting she would call her mother."
• Does Yemi plan to call her mother after the meeting, or did she make the statement after the meeting?
2. "Students who study rarely fail exams."
• Does this mean that students who rarely study fail exams, or that students who study fail exams rarely?

Correcting Squinting Modifiers

Correcting squinting modifiers involves rephrasing the sentence to clarify the intended meaning. There are several strategies to achieve this:

1. Move the Modifier:
• Adjust the position of the modifier to make it clear which part of the sentence it is modifying.
• Ambiguous: "Reading novels often improves vocabulary."
• Clear: "Often, reading novels improves vocabulary." (Modifying "reading novels")
• Clear: "Reading novels improves vocabulary often." (Modifying "improves vocabulary")
2. Rephrase the Sentence:
• Rewrite the sentence to eliminate ambiguity.
• Ambiguous: "Yemi said after the meeting she would call her mother."
• Clear: "After the meeting, Yemi said she would call her mother." (The statement was made after the meeting)
• Clear: "Yemi said she would call her mother after the meeting." (The call will be made after the meeting)
3. Add Additional Words:
• Sometimes, adding more words can clarify the sentence.
• Ambiguous: "Students who study rarely fail exams."
• Clear: "Students who rarely study fail exams."
• Clear: "Students who study almost never fail exams."

Examples with Nigerian Names

1. "Chinelo promised after school she would complete her assignment."
• Ambiguous: Did Chinelo promise after school, or will she complete her assignment after school?
• Clear: "After school, Chinelo promised she would complete her assignment."
• Clear: "Chinelo promised she would complete her assignment after school."
2. "Amina said during the lecture she understood the topic."
• Ambiguous: Did Amina say this during the lecture, or did she understand the topic during the lecture?
• Clear: "During the lecture, Amina said she understood the topic."
• Clear: "Amina said she understood the topic during the lecture."
3. "Ifunanya advised students to always check their work carefully."
• Ambiguous: Does Ifunanya advise students frequently, or should students frequently check their work carefully?
• Clear: "Ifunanya always advised students to check their work carefully."
• Clear: "Ifunanya advised students to check their work carefully always."

Exercises

To practise identifying and correcting squinting modifiers, try the following exercises. Rewrite each sentence to eliminate the ambiguity caused by the squinting modifier.

1. "Emeka said while eating he felt ill."
2. "The teacher explained the concept clearly helped the students."
3. "Uche noticed during the trip the weather was pleasant."
4. "They believed taking breaks regularly increased productivity."
5. "Kemi understood before the meeting the agenda was set."

By understanding and correcting squinting modifiers, students can improve the clarity and precision of their writing. This skill is essential for effective communication, ensuring that their intended meaning is conveyed without ambiguity.