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You can dangle your feet over the edge of cliff; you can dangle a carrot in front of a horse; you can even dangle a baby from a balcony...
but DON'T dangle a modifier!

A dangling modifier “dangles” because the word or words it is supposed to describe is/are not in the sentence

INCORRECT Jogging in the park, a dog bit me. [The dog wasn’t jogging in the park; the actual jogger is missing from the sentence.]

CORRECT Jogging in the park, I got bitten by a dog. OR While I was jogging in the park, a dog bit me.

Examples:

• By giving detailed instructions, the employees will be able to open the office in an organized, efficient manner.
• Waiting for the CEO to arrive, there was an atmosphere of tense nervousness in the Board Room.
• To initiate the procedure, the BEGIN button should be pushed.
• To get promoted in this company, there are certain rules that must be followed.
• Spending way too much money on his old car, Fred's salary just wasn't enough.
• Opening the envelope, a check fell out into her hands.
• After throwing a red towel into the washing machine, Troy’s T-shirts turned pink.
  

How to Fix It (from factmonster.com)

Because the basic problem with a dangling modifier is a lack of connection, you must provide a noun or pronoun to which the dangling construction can be attached. There are two basic ways to do this:

1. Rewrite the modifier as a subordinate clause.
   • Dangling: Confirming our conversation, the shipment will be ordered on Monday.
   • (According to this sentence, the shipment—not the speaker—confirmed the conversation.)
   • Correct: As I stated in the memo, the shipment will be ordered on Monday.
2. Rewrite the main clause so the subject or object can be modified by the now-dangling phrase.
   • Dangling: Confirming our conversation, the shipment will be ordered on Monday.
   • Correct: Confirming our conversation, I have arranged for the shipment to be ordered on Monday.

The exercise for dangling and misplaced modifiers is on the next page.