To ensure clarity in writing, where should modifiers typically be placed?

Placing modifiers as close as possible to the word they modify is essential for maintaining clarity in writing. When modifiers are positioned correctly, they provide clear and immediate context to the reader, thus preventing any potential misunderstanding about what is being modified. For example, in a sentence like "The cat sat on the mat, purring softly," the modifier "softly" is placed directly next to "purring," clearly indicating that it describes how the cat is purring.

When modifiers are placed far from the word they modify, it can lead to confusion. For instance, saying "The cat, purring softly on the mat, sat" could cause the reader to initially think that "on the mat" modifies "the cat" instead. Therefore, positioning modifiers closely to their intended words helps ensure that the writer's meaning is communicated clearly and effectively.