Dangling modifiers - are these right? Second entry is my corrected version.
1. In 1883, massive destruction was caused by the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa, an event recently examined in the book Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded.
In 1883, the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa caused massive destruction, which was recently examined in the book Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded.
2. Exploding with a force 13,000 times stronger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, people thousands of miles away heard the eruption.
People thousands of miles away heard the eruption when it exploded with a force 13,000 times stronger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
3. The loudest sound historically reported was generated by the explosion, with devastating tsunamis soon following.
The explosion not only generated the loudest sound historically reported but also the tsunamis that followed.
4. Ejecting tons of debris into the air, the volcano destroyed or damaged hundreds of nearby villages.
Correct
5. Beginning to erupt around late July, larger eruptions didn't start until the middle of August.
Correct
6. Reaching over 100 feet in height and traveling at devastating speeds, major destruction was caused on the coastlines of Sumatra.
On the Coastlines of Sumatra, major destruction was caused by tsunamis reaching over 100 feet in height and traveling at devastating speeds.
7. Lasting much longer than expected, people in nearby areas felt aftershocks until February of 1884.
The aftershocks lasted much longer than expected as people in nearby areas felt them until February of 1884.
8. To understand the magnitude of this volcanic eruption, changes in weather patterns were studied by scientists.
Changes in weather patterns were studied by scientists to understand the magnitude of this volcanic eruption.
9. Darkening the sky for days afterwards and producing unusual sunsets, the ash and gases from the volcano temporarily lowered the average temperature of the earth.
Correct
10. Affecting the art of its time, the background of Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream was inspired by Krakatoan sunsets.
Correct
1 and 3 seem correct to me in the first place. Your revised sentences are good, too.
2, 6, 8 - good corrections
4, 9 - yes
5 - rethink; what was "beginning to erupt"? The eruptions??? :-/
7 - I'd change "as" to "and" and put a comma after "expected"
10 - rethink; what was "affecting the art of its time"?
Dangling modifiers are indeed an issue in sentences where the modifier is not clearly connected to the noun or pronoun it is intended to modify. This can lead to confusion or create illogical meanings. Here's an explanation of the corrections made to each sentence:
1. The original sentence contains a dangling modifier because it suggests that the event of examining the book Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded caused the massive destruction. The corrected version rephrases the sentence to clearly state that the eruption caused the destruction, and the examination of the book was recent.
2. The original sentence contains a dangling modifier because it implies that the people were exploding with a force 13,000 times stronger than the bomb. The corrected version rephrases the sentence to clearly state that the eruption exploded with a force 13,000 times stronger, and the people heard it from miles away.
3. The original sentence does not contain a dangling modifier.
4. The original sentence contains a dangling modifier because it suggests that the volcano was ejecting tons of debris into the air while destroying or damaging hundreds of nearby villages. The corrected version rephrases the sentence to clearly state that the volcano destroyed or damaged the villages by ejecting tons of debris into the air.
5. The original sentence does not contain a dangling modifier.
6. The original sentence contains a dangling modifier because it implies that major destruction was reaching over 100 feet in height and traveling at devastating speeds. The corrected version rephrases the sentence to clearly state that tsunamis caused major destruction on the coastlines of Sumatra by reaching over 100 feet in height and traveling at devastating speeds.
7. The original sentence does not contain a dangling modifier.
8. The original sentence does not contain a dangling modifier.
9. The original sentence does not contain a dangling modifier.
10. The original sentence does not contain a dangling modifier.
Overall, it seems that most of the corrections made in the second versions of the sentences addressed the issue of dangling modifiers and improved clarity.