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While nestled inside that divine sanctuary, words were my window to the world outside my perch in Columbus, Ohio. (Benita Porter, The Power of Words)

It seems like while-clause is a participial clause (a dangling participial one). Is it? If so, is the subject ‘I’?

Listenever
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    As the son of an English professor I am very happy to see this question! Yes, that is a classic dangling participle (whether it's a clause depends on your theology); it could go in a textbook as a warning to writers. And 'I' should govern nestled, but, alas, doesn't, because it got left out. – StoneyB on hiatus Sep 01 '13 at 00:05
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    Technically speaking, *words* is the subject. But it's a badly-formed sentence, so if you try to parse it you end up with gibberish. – FumbleFingers Sep 01 '13 at 01:15
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    I think 'words' is a subject for 'words were my window.' But in the subordinate clause 'while (I was) nestled inside that divine sanctuary,' subject is 'I.' – aarbee Sep 01 '13 at 09:27
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    It's prescriptively incorrect, but see CGEL pages 610-611 for a descriptive account of when a "dangling participle" is acceptable or not. For example, the subject of *said* in *"Having said that,* it must be admitted that the new plan also has advantages" is unstated but can be understood from context, so it's generally considered acceptable. I think you could say the same about your example, but clearly opinions differ. –  Sep 01 '13 at 19:07
  • @StoneyB: Can you write that as an answer to this question? – Matt Sep 01 '13 at 21:00
  • @snailboat: For reasons I can't put my finger on, I find OP's example more glaringly "ungrammatical/awkward" than yours. I think it's to do with that initial *while*, which slightly distracts me from seamlessly adding the omitted subject. – FumbleFingers Sep 01 '13 at 22:45

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Yep. This is a classic dangling participle (past participle in this case). The subject is "words" but the participle isn't meant to modify "words" (at least, I don't think the words were nestled anywhere). The clause is meant to modify "I" but the author never put "I" into the sentence at all.

Greg Hullender
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