What Is a Sentence Fragment? (With Examples)

Introduction

• Sentence Fragment: An incomplete sentence, lacking in subject, verb, or complete thought.
• Importance: Understanding and fixing sentence fragments can enhance writing clarity and professionalism.

Key Concepts

Definition

• Sentence Fragment: A clause that does not form a complete sentence because it is missing:
  • A subject
  • A verb
  • A complete thought

Fixing Sentence Fragments

• Methods:

  1. Add Missing Components: Add the missing subject, verb, or necessary parts to complete the sentence.
  2. Connect to an Independent Clause: Attach the fragment to a nearby independent clause.

• Examples:

  • "Because of the rain." becomes "Because of the rain, the party was canceled."
  • Use semicolons to connect clauses that can stand independently.
  • Separate into two sentences if semicolon use is too formal.

Examples

• Glaring Example:

  • Fragment: "Because of the rain."
  • Fixed: "Because of the rain, the party was canceled."

• Short Complete Sentences:

  • "I ran." is complete with a subject and verb.
  • "Jesus wept." is another example.

• Polished Writing: Avoiding fragments can make writing more polished and professional.

  • "Looking forward to seeing you." becomes "I'm looking forward to seeing you."

Stylistic Use of Fragments

• Contextual Use: Used in journalism, blogging, fiction for dramatic effect.

• Example:

  • "No matter what." serves a dramatic purpose in storytelling.

• Guidance: Avoid in formal settings like essays and business documents.

Conclusion

• Best Practices: Use fragments stylistically only when appropriate and ensure clarity in writing.
• Grammarly Suggestion: Utilize tools like Grammarly for improved writing quality, checking spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Additional Resources

• Read More: Guidance on when and how to fix sentence fragments.
• Tools and Features: Grammarly offers various tools for improving writing, including AI writing tools and grammar checking.