souvik101990 wrote:
In the 1950s, toy stores sold thousands of play replicas of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series, the “Buntline Special,” a long-barreled six-gun named after the legendary Ned Buntline.
A. In the 1950s, toy stores sold thousands of play replicas of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series
B. Popularized by the 1950s Wyatt Earp television series, toy stores sold thousands of play replicas of a gun
C. In the 1950s, the Wyatt Earp television series popularized thousands of play replicas of a gun sold in toy stores
D. A play replica of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series, which sold thousands in toy stores in the 1950s
E. As toy stores sold thousands of the 1950s replicas of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series
This is a really interesting one, and I haven't found an answer I really like.
A. In the 1950s, toy stores sold thousands of play replicas of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series
-- The modifier after the underlined portion seems to refer to a gun. In A, the gun is pretty far away from this modifier.
B. Popularized by the 1950s Wyatt Earp television series, toy stores sold thousands of play replicas of a gun
-- The opening modifier should also modify replicas of a gun, but instead it modifies toy stores.
C. In the 1950s, the Wyatt Earp television series popularized thousands of play replicas of a gun sold in toy stores
-- Meaning change here. There is also an interesting ambiguity in the modifiers. One could read it as "toy stores sold thousands of play replicas of a gun", or "replicas of a gun, and this gun happens to be sold in toy stores"
D.A play replica of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series, which sold thousands in toy stores in the 1950s
-- No verb in the sentence.
E. As toy stores sold thousands of the 1950s replicas of a gun popularized by the Wyatt Earp television series
-- Misplaced modifier after this choice, and no independent clause (starts with As).
Even though I don't like A, it seems to be the best option?