A dangling modifier is a descriptive word or phrase that is intended to modify a noun but is left “dangling” without clearly pointing to the noun it’s supposed to describe. This can create confusion or a humorous effect because the sentence ends up describing the wrong thing.

For example:

• Dangling modifier: Running late, the car wouldn’t start.

  Here, it sounds like the car was running late, which doesn’t make sense.

• Corrected version: Running late, I couldn’t get the car to start.

  Now, it’s clear that the person was running late, not the car.

So, a dangling modifier often results from a sentence structure where the noun it’s meant to describe is either missing or in the wrong position.