Rule 8 from 11 Rules of Writing
Be sure that a pronoun, a participial phrase, or an appositive refers clearly to the proper subject.
Examples
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Incorrect: Its hump decorated in strings of flowers, the programmer rode the camel through the food court.
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Correct: The programmer rode the camel, its hump decorated in strings of flowers, through the food court.
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Incorrect: Filled with bad gas, he drove his car to Tucson despite the knocking.
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Correct: Although it was filled with bad gas, he drove his car to Tucson despite the knocking.
References
More information about this rule is available from the following sources.
Online Resources: - The Elements of Style: rule 7
Printed Resources: (see Books on Writing section)
- Strunk and White: 1-11
- Hacker: G3-b and E3-b
