One of the most common errors are dangling and misplaced modifiers! Biggest rule: Put modifying nouns as close as possible to the words they are meant to modify!
Misplaced Modifiers
What is a "Misplaced Modifier"? A misplaced modifier is a noun (person, place or thing) that changes the sense of another word but the reader is confused who or what the sentences is referring to. Example 1: Sentence: A small book sat on the desk that Sarah had read
Modifier: "that Sarah had read"
Mistake: The modifier is placed in the wrong spot. It is modifying the desk not the book. It makes it sound like Sarah had read the desk
Fixed: A small book that Sarah had read sat on the desk
Example 2: Sentence: Ron ordered a hot bowl of soup.
Modifier: "hot"
Mistake: The modifier is placed in the wrong spot again. The modifier is saying the bowl is hot not the soup.
Fixed: Ron ordered a bowl of hot soup.
Dangling Modifier (a type of misplaced modifier)
What is a "Dangling Modifier"? A dangling modifier is a type of misplaced modifier but it usually ends with -ing at the end of the modifying word. The dangling modifier makes sentences illogical and therefore the modifier "dangles". Dangling modifiers are usual found in the beginning. Example 1: Sentence: Walking through the park, the grass tickled my feet.
Mistake: Walking through the park modifies the grass instead of "you". The sentence is saying the grass was walking.
Fixed: The grass tickled my feet as I walked through the park.