Parallelism, Pronoun References, and Modifier Placement

Exercise Links: Grammar Exercise #1 Grammar Exercise #3 Punctuation Exercises Usage Exercises Site Links: Writing Guidelines Writing Exercises

Each of the following may have one of the following errors: faulty parallelism, unclear pronoun reference, or misplaced modifier. Click on the word or phrase that causes the error. If no error exists, click on "No error." Corresponding information for this exercise can be found in The Craft of Editing (denoted CE) and The Craft of Scientific Writing (denoted CSW). Note: In the general preferences of your browser, please do not override this document's choice of font colors. Also, these exercises work best when you remove the underline option for links in your browser.

Although design flaws in the Titanic were realized soon after its sinking in 1912, the reasons for the severe damage inflicted by the iceberg remained a mystery until its discovery in 1985. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #1 correctly. Discussion: Incorrect pronoun reference. Although the writer intended the second "its" to refer to the Titanic, someone could misread the reference to be the iceberg. To correct, change the second "its" to "Titanic's." More discussion in CSW (pages 93-94). Back to Top of Page Once the earthquake has subsided, you are not yet out of danger. Often the electricity has gone out and it is dark. However, striking a match or any open flame may cause a gas explosion. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #2 correctly. Discussion: Faulty parallelism. The gerundial phrase "striking a match" is not parallel with the noun phrase "any open flame." Moreover, the position of "striking" causes an ambiguity: Are open flames to be struck? To correct, replace the words "striking a match" with "a lit match." More discussion in CE (page 123) and CSW (page 259). Back to Top of Page At this time, the Department of Energy is only considering Yucca Mountain as a possible storage site for nuclear waste. For that reason, this report will not consider other sites. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #3 correctly. Discussion: Misplaced modifier. Although the writer intended the word "only" to modify "Yucca Mountain," someone could easily assume that the word modifies "considering." To correct, move "only" such that it precedes "Yucca Mountain." More discussion in CE (pages 119, 122) and CSW (page 92). Back to Top of Page Scientists have problems assuring that the viral vectors apply themselves to the correct cells. When implanted, they tend to migrate throughout the body and miss targeted cells more often than not. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #4 correctly. Discussion: Incorrect pronoun reference. To avoid confusion, the word "they" should be "vectors." More discussion in CSW (pages 93-94). Back to Top of Page Reductions of up to 80 percent in heat and mass transfer coefficients were measured due to outgassing. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #5 correctly. Discussion: Misplaced modifier. Were the reductions measured because of outgassing, or were the reductions at the level of 80 percent because of outgassing? Because the writer intended the second possibility, the sentence should be rewritten: "Measured were reductions of up to 80 percent in heat and mass transfer coefficients. These large reductions occurred because of outgassing." More discussion in CE (page 119) and CSW (page 92). Back to Top of Page The objectives of the Viking mission were to obtain high-resolution images of the Martian surface, characterize the structure and composition of the atmosphere and surface, and to search for evidence of life. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #6 correctly. Discussion: Faulty parallelism. The list of three verb phrases is not parallel. To correct, insert the word "to" before "characterize." More discussion in CE (page 123) and CSW (page 259). Back to Top of Page Mars and Earth are similar in that both are rapidly rotating planets and both have seasonal climate changes. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #7 correctly. Discussion: no error. Back to Top of Page The decoder was either faster than the worst case specified by the manufacturer, or the HC11 held the data longer than the minimum time specified by Motorola. (No error) Give up? Congratulations, you have answered #8 correctly. Discussion: Faulty parallelism. With an either/or construction, what appears on the right of the "either" must be parallel with what appears on the right side of the "or." More discussion in CE (page 123) and CSW (page 259). Correction: Either the decoder was faster than the worst case specified by the manufacturer, or the HC11 held the data longer than the minimum time specified by Motorola. You have reached the end of this exercise. Top of Page

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