Using Modifiers Effectively

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T IS IMPOSSIBLE to divide the business of writing into watertight compartments, and we have already touched on several matters relating to the placement of modifiers. In Text 3 we stressed the need to place modifiers carefully in order to avoid ambiguity or obscurity. In Text 5 we discussed the relationship of modifier placement to loose and periodic sentences. And in Text 6 we noted the advisability of using modifiers in their most economical form. There still remain, however, several important matters which we must touch on, for next to the relationship of subject to verb, that of modifiers to their agents is the most important element in sentence effectiveness. Almost every major issue hangs on it-smoothness, clarity, force, linkage, unity of logic, stylistic effectiveness.

The Two Basic Kinds of Modification

From basic grammar we remember that there are only two kinds of modifiers, adjectives and adverbs. But this seemingly simple situation can become complicated in actual practice. For one thing, we sometimes cannot tell in English (except in the comparative degree) whether words are working as adjectives or not. When we see the word "larger" we know that is being used as an adjective. The ending of the comparative degree tells us. But how about thousands of other words, particularly those that can serve as nouns? Indeed, it is a peculiarity of English that it uses nouns constantly to modify other nouns. Awkwardness and ambiguity are always waiting to pounce. "Be careful not to let the cement block forms dry as wet concrete sticks" runs a sentence which caused me some bewildered moments. The words "cement" and "block" both sound like nouns, and "forms" could be a verb. The writer meant, however, that "forms" should be taken as a noun, "cement" and "block" as adjectives. (Actually, they compose a compound adjective, since the two words together compose one modifier.) The ambiguity of this particular sentence is compounded, of course, by the careless use of "as," a tricky word which can be many parts of speech and which should be used only when there is no slightest chance of ambiguity. (This means that "as" should never be used in the sense of "because"-"I did not mail the report as [because] he had said he would pick it up personally.")

But if adjectives are bewildering in some ways, they are easier to handle than adverbs. For one thing, it seems to be much more natural to place single-word adjectives next to the words they modify than it is to place adverbs where they belong. It is rare for simple adjectives to wander very far, but adverbs are always getting lost, as here: "I slammed the book shut as he came into the room quickly and noisily." The two adverbs at the end legally belong to "slammed," and they should have come along after "shut," if not actually before "slammed." We cannot imagine single-word adjectives behaving like that. We would not be likely to say that "the book belongs to large, fat Miss Jones," if we mean that "the large, fat book belongs to Miss Jones." Adjectives are also fairly dependable in that single modifiers usually precede and multipleword modifiers usually follow the noun. We say "the important question" but "the question which seems important." Since this placement of adjectives is normal, sentence variety can be achieved by occasionally reversing the sequence: "the question, important as it is, ." (True, we cheated a little, since "important as it is" has become a multiple-word modifier; but it still says only "important" and the location is felt to be deliberately unusual.)

Probably the most determined little wanderers among the common adverbs are "only" and "merely." "They only discussed the matter for 4 or 5 minutes." This is perfectly acceptable in speech, but strict expository accuracy demands "They discussed the matter for only 4 or 5 minutes." "It is merely a question of technical importance" should, of course, be “It is a matter merely of technical importance." Other words which must commonly be put on a leash if you want to have them when you need them are "almost" ("He almost skidded over the cliff" instead of "He skidded almost over the cliff"), "nearly," "scarcely," "largely,” etc.

The Special Problem of "However" and Similar Adverbs

Another difference between adjectives and adverbs is that adverbs are even harder to identify. The word "however," for example, does not shout its adverbial function in such a sentence as "It was difficult, however, for the investigator to reach a decision." Only in the rather thin atmosphere of pure logic, not in obvious grammatical relationship, does "however" here relate to an action. We realize, however, that in the sentence quoted (and in the one you are now reading), the word tells us to take an attitude toward the action, not toward any substantive. This can be proved by noting the effect of a "however" used as a fragment, without an attached statement. "We all agreed that we should have a larger building. However-!" If spoken, that single word would tell us that the larger building was not forthcoming-it tells us, by implication, of an action.

Such words as "however," "moreover," "consequently," all serve as adverbs, then, but their force is not clearly adverbial. They do not seem, therefore, to be subject to the rules governing the placement of adverb modifiers. As a general principle, when they modify the sense of an entire sentence, they come either first or last. When they are put close to a word within a sentence, they more sharply aim their modification. Note the difference in aim of "consequently" used in the two following sentences:

"The pressure of work eased up late in the year. Consequently, we felt it better to devote the efforts of our staff to those general problems which so often are postponed in times of stress." (General modification.)

"Needs were not specifically identified in the first memorandum and we decided, consequently, to request clarification." (More confined modification.)

Interpolating such adverbs within a clause calls particular attention to them; putting them first or last gives a more general sense of their "influence" on the sentence. Compare the effect of "However, we are not entirely sure of the accuracy of the facts" with "We are not, however, entirely sure of the accuracy of the facts." The second version emphasizes the skepticism, gives stress to the negative point of view.

Stylistic considerations also affect the placement of these everyday adverb modifiers. Used at the end of a sentence, for example, they often weaken the force of the statement. It is stronger to say "The printing was completed, however, before the data had been fully checked for accuracy" than "The printing was completed before the data had been fully checked for accuracy, however." Some writers, indeed, ban terminal positions for all such adverbs, and use them only sparingly at the beginning. This may be an oversimplification, but one very important principle does govern initial positions. The principle is based on the fact that "moreover" and "however" and the rest really cue the reader to take an attitude about some action previously mentioned. If more than one action has been spoken of, an initial "however" will lack any clear focus. For example: "It was realized when the program was set up that it would not solve all problems at once, but it was felt that a beginning should be made while the facilities were available. However, . . . ." Now, what is that "however" leading to? Is it going to run, "However, facilities were not available"? or perhaps, "However, results were far better than we hoped"? or possibly, "However, it is clear now that we should have waited"? It is easy, when a situation like this arises, to cue the reader with an "echo" of the thought he is to take a "however" attitude toward. "Results, however, were . . or "Facilities, however, were not . . ." or "We now realize, however, . . ." In sum, do not begin a sentence with "however" unless the reader knows which one of the ideas previously mentioned is being

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modified. The same principle holds true of "nevertheless," "therefore,” "consequently," and scores of other adverbs; but "however" is the most frequent offender.

Movable and Immovable Modifiers

We must depend largely on the movability of adverbial modifiers for our sentence flexibility. Adjective modifiers of all sorts must stay pretty close to their nouns or pronouns. If they wander, the effect is not variety but ambiguity. We have noted the way participial phrases go to pieces when separated from the influence of their home noun. They "dangle," they get "hung over," they babble nonsense. Like pronouns, adjectives can at best do little more than stand there and point to the nearest noun, swearing that, silly as it may seem, that's mama. (If it were not for this trait in pronouns, the writers of comic strips would be hard pressed for material. In one comic strip, for example, a sergeant shows a stupid recruit how to handle a hand grenade. "This is a hand grenade," he says firmly. "Now pull the pin and throw it!" So the recruit does. That is, he throws the pin. He holds on to the grenade, of course, for he has received no instructions about it. Or a man is changing a tire. He picks up a tire iron and hands a large hammer to his companion. "I'm going to hold the tire iron against the rim," he says. "When I nod my head, hit it." And, lo, it comes to pass even as he has said.)

So, when you have decided whether to put an adjective modifier in front of its noun or after it, you have just about exhausted the possibilities. Adverbial modifiers are different. Note the variety of emphases achieved in the following three sentences simply by moving the adverbial phrase "without proper consideration":

1. The issue was decided without proper consideration by a bare majority vote. 2. Without proper consideration, the issue was decided by a bare majority vote.

3. The issue was decided by a bare majority vote, without proper consideration.

True, the third version is somewhat loosely constructed, but it is quite acceptable if you wish to emphasize the point about improper consideration.

This mobility is true of all adverbial modifiers-adverbial prepositional phrases, adverbial clauses, appositive units, absolutes, and "with" constructions. It is not, of course, a limitless mobility. Adverbial constructions can dangle, too. A Boston newspaper some years back had a

sentence something like this: "Hearings will be held on the charge that Leo Durocher struck and kicked a fan in the ball park an hour ahead of schedule yesterday." This is scarcely fair, however, since the offending adverb, "an hour ahead of schedule," really relates to nothing in the sentence, only to an implication of the whole passage-"an hour before the game was scheduled to begin."

"Squinting" Modifiers

It seems almost ungrateful to curb the willingness of adverbial modifiers to work in both directions at once within a sentence, but it must be done if sense demands it. The most frequent offender, again, is "however" when it appears between two independent clauses. This fact has been noted under our text on punctuation, and you no doubt remember it from your review of grammar. The solution is simple: Use a semicolon to block, as it were, the influence of the "however" from entering the clause to which it does not apply. "He tried to do his best, however; it was not good enough." Or "He tried to do his best; however, it was not good enough." Better in many cases is the interpolation of the adverb within the clause "He tried, however, to do his best; it was not good enough."

This is mere mechanics. More troublesome because harder to spot are those lengthy adverbial modifiers which do not trigger in our minds awareness of possible trouble, as "however" usually does. For example: "To the study of human biology, with exactness and vigor, there must be added an understanding of the ideas which have moved men over the years." Does the prepositional phrase "with exactness and vigor" modify the study of biology or the addition of understanding? The former, I assume; but it is only a guess. If the guess is correct, the sentence should read: "To the exact and vigorous study of human biology there must be added. . . ."

Another example: "If the employee has been with us only a short time because of the recency of his experience, his reactions to procedures may be fresh and of interest." (This sentence concerns persons who resign from Government service soon after their employment. The point is that such people should be talked to as they walk the last long mile to the door; they may have a lot of useful ideas.) The phrase "because of the recency of his experience" presumably modifies the main clause, but it is placed between that unit and the subordinate clause which begins the sentence. Even more confusing, the "because" phrase is not separated from the subordinate clause by a comma; and its relationship to it, consequently, appears intended. Probably the sentence would be clearer and