In order to be the best writers possible, people should learn how to recognize sentence errors. However, they also need to learn not only how to avoid making these errors in the first place but also how to correct them when and if such errors occur. After all, even the most meticulous of writers can occasionally get careless, and one common error that many writers fail to recognize is the sentence fragment.
Definition of a Sentence
A sentence is a group of words that contains at least one subject (sometimes it’s the understood subject “you”) and at least one verb, which is working with that subject, along with any necessary modifiers (adjectives, adverbs, etc.). More important, all words within that group of words are working together in order to express a complete thought.
Definition of a Fragment
A fragment is only part of a sentence. Granted, fragments are written like sentences, meaning they begin with a capital letter and end with a period, but since they do not express a complete thought, fragments are not sentences.
Functional Fragments
Functional fragments are also only parts of sentences; however, they are usually intentional on the part of a writer, especially a fiction writer, because people often speak in fragments and written dialogue mirrors human speech; for example:
- He curled his lip and said, “Yeah, like I gotta listen to you?”
- Sliding to a stop, the man shouted, “Stop! Thief!”
Yet, despite their being suitable in such instances as these, fragments should be avoided in more formal expository writing.
Test for Fragments
In order to avoid inadvertently creating fragments, writers should ask themselves these three questions:
- If this statement was made to another person, would it make sense by itself or would it need clarification?
- If someone wrote this statement on a note, with nothing else included, would the recipient of the note know what the writer meant or would he or she have to guess?
- Does the statement contain a subject, at least an understood subject, and a verb, or is it missing one or both?
If one applies the three questions above, which of the following word groups are sentences and which are instead fragments?
- Which is what he had originally planned.
- Which one of the children tossed Tom’s laptop out the window?
- Because he feared rejection.
- One that Tom will always regret.
- Tom decided to become a writer because he wanted to be rich.
- First, the pitfalls of a writer’s life.
- Knowing he was making the best decision for his family.
- Just talking with Tom is an unforgettable experience.
- Although it was against contest rules.
- Not “another War and Peace,” as Tom insisted.
- Tom’s decision to quit his day job and write fulltime was not the best decision for his family.
Types of fragments
A Dependent (Subordinate) Clause Fragment
- Example: Which is what he had originally planned.
- Correction: Tom decided to write a mystery novel, which is what he had originally planned.
- Example: Because of he feared rejection.
- Correction 1: Because he feared rejection, Tom never queried a literary agent about his novel.
- Correction 2: Tom never queried a literary agent about his novel because he feared rejection.
- Example: Although it was against contest rules.
- Correction: Although it was against contest rules, Tom entered a previously published short story.
An Appositive Fragment
- Example: One that Tom will always regret.
- Correction: It was a hasty decision, one that Tom will always regret, to burn the agent’s letter without even opening it.
A fragment without a Subject or a Verb
- Example: First, the pitfalls of a writer’s life.
- Correction 1: First, the pitfalls of a writer’s life must be addressed.
- Correction 2: Tom knew he must first address the pitfalls of a writer’s life.
A Participle Fragment
- Example: Knowing he was making the best decision for his family.
- Correction: Knowing he was making the best decision for his family, Tom decided to quit his job selling insurance and devote all his time to writing.
A Fragment Beginning with “not”
- Example: Not “another War and Peace,” as Tom insisted.
- Correction: Sue said his novel was mediocre at best, not “another War and Peace,” as Tom insisted.
One trademark of a good writer is the ability to use words in such a way that they express ideas clearly and concisely; and since fragments often leave readers guessing at a writer’s intent, they should be avoided except in select instances. However, even when intentional, fragments are best used after considerable forethought on the part of even the best of writers.
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