Using "looking at" (reduced adverbial phrase) at the beginning of a sentence
1- Looking at the specific second languages spoken, in 2000, 30% of the students were able to speak Spanish, ... (https://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/ielts-writing-task-1/)
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2- Looking at the changes in more detail, we can see that in 2007 there were three bus stops on either side of Hospital Road... (Source)
These sentences are from two different article. I find the second reduced phrase fine but the first reduced phrase seems awkward to me. As far as I know we should use same subjects in the both side of a sentence when using reduced phrases. I think the second is okay because the object doing the action of "looking" is "we". But in the first sentence "the students" is not the subject of the action of "looking" I suppose.
Top answer
You are correct. The first would be considered a misplaced or dangling modifier. There are a few paticular present participles that would be acceptable because they also serve as prepositions.
- You are correct.
- The first would be considered a misplaced or dangling modifier.
- There are a few paticular present participles that would be acceptable because they also serve as prepositions.
- Looking at Considering the specific second languages spoken , in 2000, 30% of the students were able to speak Spanish, .
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You are correct. The first would be considered a misplaced or dangling modifier.
There are a few paticular present participles that would be acceptable because they also serve as prepositions.
Looking at Considering the specific second languages spoken, in 2000, 30% of the students were able
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