This kind of phrase most likely to cause trouble is one that serves as an adjective or adverb. Such a phrase is misplaced when it modifies, or appears to modify, some element in the sentence other than the one intended. For example:

A: In an article celebrating the 28^th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist party in 1949, Mao Zedong said …

B: In 1949, in an article celebrating the 28^th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist party, Mao Zedong said …

[In A-version, the phrase “in 1949” modifies not “anniversary”, as the writer clearly intended, but “founding”, which is the closer word. Thus, the sentence says that the Party was founded in 1949. Moved to the beginning, the phrase modifies “said”, which restores the correct meaning.]

A: After year of effort, Gao said that soil erosion has been brought under control in 16,700 square kilometers of the affected land areas, or 58% of the total.

B: Gao said that after years of effort, soil erosion has been brought under control in 16,700 square kilometers of the affected land areas, or 58% of the total.

Logically misplaced clauses are less frequent in Chinglish than misplaced phrases. When they do appear, however, it is usually for the same reason: the clause in question acts as a modifier, and the translator has inadvertently made it modify the wrong element in the sentence. Here are two examples:

A: So long as we strictly implement the Government Administration Council’s Decision on Unifying National Financial and Economic Work, after we go through several months of difficulties, we have every reason to expect that the financial situation will gradually improve.

B: So long as we strictly implement the Government Administration Council’s Decision on Unifying National Financial and Economic Work, we have every reason to expect that after a few difficult months the financial situation will gradually improve.

[The clause “after we go through several months of difficulties” is intended to function as an adverb modifying “will improve”. But in A-version, coming before “we have every reason to expect”, it modifies those words instead.]

A: We should also review our experience frequently and make adjustments in light of the actual conditions when we find problems.

B: We should also review our experience frequently and, when we find problems, make adjustments in light of the conditions.

取自The Translator’s Guide to Chinglish, by Joan Pinkham with the collaboration of Jiang Guihua；如有侵权，联系删除