Misplaced Modifier Be careful about the placement of simple modifiers such as “only.” Consider how the placement of “only” can change the meaning of a sentence: Only I tested the bell jar for leaks yesterday. I only tested the bell jar for leaks yesterday. I tested only the bell jar...
Becarefulabouttheplacementofsimplemodifierssuchas“only.”Considerhowtheplacementof“only”canchangethemeaningofasentence:•••••OnlyItestedthebelljarforleaksyesterday.Ionlytestedthebelljarforleaksyesterday.Itestedonlythebelljarforleaksyesterday.Itestedthebelljaronlyforleaksyesterday.Itestedthebelljarfor...
Modifierslikealmost,even,exactly,hardly,just,merely,nearly,only, scarcely, and simply should be as close as possible to what they modify. Wrong: Marion wants to only go back home. (The modifier only is placed by wants, so it sounds as if Marion wants only one goal in life: to go back...
Becarefulabouttheplacementofsimplemodifierssuchas“only.”Considerhowtheplacementof“only”canchangethemeaningofasentence: OnlyItestedthebelljarforleaksyesterday. Ionlytestedthebelljarforleaksyesterday. Itestedonlythebelljarforleaksyesterday. Itestedthebelljaronlyforleaksyesterday. ...