Short Answer 
A dangling modifier is a phrase that doesn’t clearly connect to the subject of a sentence, causing confusion. To fix it, identify the modifier and restructure the sentence so that it logically relates to the intended subject, improving clarity.
Step 1: Understand What a Dangling Modifier Is
A dangling modifier is a phrase that fails to clearly modify a word in a sentence, leading to confusion. It often appears at the beginning of a sentence but does not logically connect to the subject that follows. Recognizing this issue is crucial for improving sentence clarity.
Step 2: Identify the Dangling Modifier
To spot a dangling modifier, look for phrases that provide additional information but are not clearly associated with the main subject. For instance, in the sentence “To raise a good dog, persistence is important,” the phrase “To raise a good dog” is incorrectly placed and does not modify any noun meaningfully.
Step 3: Revise the Sentence for Clarity
To correct a sentence with a dangling modifier, restructure it so that the modifier is clearly linked to the intended subject. A clearer version could be: “To raise a good dog, one must be persistent.” This adjustment ensures that the modifier connects directly to the appropriate subject, enhancing overall clarity.