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Niranjan Krishnamurthy Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Is this a run-on sentence?

You know you’re broken when you find yourself on eBay, researching the cost of those paper boiler suits that decorators and lab technicians wear.

According to me, those are two dependent clauses which are connected without a co-coordinating conjunction. But I am probably missing something.
  

Top answer

Niranjan Krishnamurthy Is this a run-on sentence? No; it has another problem instead. You know [ you’re broke [ when you find yourself on eB ay resea rching the cost of those paper boiler suits [ that decorators and lab technicians wear .

— Mister Micawber

  • Niranjan Krishnamurthy Is this a run-on sentence?
  • No; it has another problem instead.
  • You know [ you’re broke [ when you find yourself on eB ay resea rching the cost of those paper boiler suits [ that decorators and lab technicians wear .
  • ] ] ] Niranjan Krishnamurthy I am probably missing something.
  • The three dependent clauses are embedded one within the other; they are not coordinate:
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6 Answers
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Niranjan KrishnamurthyIs this a run-on sentence?
No; it has another problem instead.

You know [you’re broke [when you find yourself on eBay researching the cost of those paper boiler suits [that decorators and lab
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But is it grammatically correct? Can three dependent clauses are embedded one within the other?
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Niranjan KrishnamurthyBut is it grammatically correct? Can three dependent clauses are embedded one within the other?
As diagrammed by Mr M, there is one independent clause and three dependent clauses. The first dependent clause is introduced by "that" (implied); the second, by "when"; the third, by "that". These three elements create the embedding.
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One last question. Was the comma required before "researching" ?
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Niranjan KrishnamurthyCan three dependent clauses be embedded one within the other?
Yes, there is no limit except the reader's patience.
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Niranjan KrishnamurthyOne last question. Was the comma required before "researching" ?
No—that's why I deleted it. I consider it wrong.
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