Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier

Book excerpt: The Seven Writing Mysteries that Really Matter Most people think that good grammar leads to good writing. But the truth is that while good writing may be technically correct, it's also strong, concise, and specific. This guide identifies the seven writing weaknesses that editors everywhere must fix again and again; in fact, almost all of an editor's corrections on any piece of writing will come from the material covered in this book's lessons. In an engaging solve-the-mystery format, you'll solve these cases: • The Tantalizing Tale of Passive Voice • The Peculiar Puzzle of the Vague -ing Word • The Confusing Caper Concerning the Super-Long Sentence You don't have to wade through hundreds of pages of dry grammar references to improve your writing. Rather than memorize the picky details that very few people care about, learn what really leads to good writing in this easy-to-use and friendly book.