[Jill Malcolm]

Bloopers

The following terms are used for bloopers that will sometimes pop up in your writing. They creep in easily if you are not vigilant. It is worth knowing what they are so you can avoid them.

1.Tautology

2.Dangling modifiers

3.Squinting modifiers

[Jill Malcolm]

Here is the answer to the first blooper.

Answer:

Tautology is saying the same thing twice in a word or phrase. Tautologies are very easy to write because many of them are also clichés. Watch out for them and delete them from your writing.

There are exceptions. Tautology can be used for emphasis but not too often.

One example is where it’s been used for effect is on a fly spray can:   “Zappo kills flies dead.”

Examples of tautology

 

• g. they arrived one after the other in quick succession.

• He plunged down from the sky
• The two clouds merged together.
• Usual habits
• Unjustly persecuted
• When it was first founded
• Pair off in twos
• Young lad
• No other alternative
• Join together
• Old crone
• Past history
• Future prospects

 

 

[Jill Malcolm]

Modifiers are words, phrases, or clauses that provide description in sentences.

Their placement is very important. They can easily make a sentence laughable if they are wrongly placed. They are also very easy to write. So looking for dangling modifiers is just one more thing to check in your work.

Here are some examples. See if you can pick up why they are bloopers.

 

• Walking across the field a light appeared in the distance
• We saw Mt Blank flying from Paris to Rome.
• John was introduced to his future wife while travelling through a mutual friend.
• Quietly descending the stairs, a loose tile tripped him u
• When only four my mother taught me to read.
• Walking down the road the hills appeared before us
• He waved to me as I left with his right hand
• The men lounged on faded sofas sprouting stuffing.
• One morning I shot an elephant in my night shirt.
• Children, this food should not be eaten without washing first

 

 

 

[Jill Malcolm]

Answer to the third blooper

A squinting modifier is similar to a dangling modifier but the meaning is ambiguous rather than wrong.

Again they need to be watched for when you edit your own work.

Here are some examples. See if you can work out how they should be written to clarify their meaning.

• Born in Thailand I was amazed that Kim fits so well into English society.

 

• Stepping off the Hong Kong plane in Bangkok, the Third World greets you with a smack of hot wet air and a tug on the sleeve.

 

• Children, this food should not be eaten without washing first,