Fragment

Definition

A fragment is an incomplete sentence that lacks either a subject, a verb, or a complete thought. Understanding fragments is essential for effective drafting and revising, as they can disrupt the flow of writing and create confusion for readers. Identifying and correcting fragments is crucial to ensure that sentences are clear and convey complete ideas.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fragments can occur when a writer tries to combine ideas but fails to create a complete sentence, often resulting in missing key elements like subjects or verbs.
2. To fix a fragment, you can either attach it to a nearby complete sentence or rewrite it to include all necessary components for clarity.
3. Fragments are commonly found in informal writing or speech but should be avoided in formal writing to maintain professionalism and clarity.
4. Identifying fragments during the revising process is essential, as it allows writers to refine their sentences and enhance the overall coherence of their work.
5. Writers should pay attention to punctuation, as incorrect use can create fragments, especially when using conjunctions or transitions improperly.

Review Questions

• How can identifying fragments improve the quality of writing during the revising process?
  • Identifying fragments during revising helps improve the quality of writing by ensuring that each sentence conveys a complete thought, which enhances clarity for the reader. When fragments are corrected, sentences become more coherent and structured, making the overall piece more engaging and easier to understand. This process also encourages writers to think critically about their sentence construction, leading to stronger communication of ideas.
• In what ways can recognizing dependent clauses contribute to avoiding sentence fragments?
  • Recognizing dependent clauses helps avoid sentence fragments by allowing writers to understand that these clauses cannot stand alone as complete thoughts. By identifying dependent clauses, writers can ensure that they are paired with appropriate independent clauses to form complete sentences. This awareness fosters better sentence structure and reduces the likelihood of creating fragments, thereby improving overall writing quality.
• Evaluate the impact of fragment use on reader comprehension and how this relates to effective communication in writing.
  • The use of fragments can significantly hinder reader comprehension by leaving thoughts unfinished and creating ambiguity. When readers encounter incomplete sentences, they may struggle to grasp the intended message, leading to frustration and misunderstanding. Effective communication in writing relies on clear and complete sentences, which provide readers with the necessary context and information. Therefore, minimizing fragment use is crucial for enhancing clarity and ensuring that the audience fully understands the writer's intent.

Related terms

run-on sentence: A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions, often leading to confusion.

dependent clause: A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought, often leading to fragments if not properly connected to an independent clause.

sentence structure: Sentence structure refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences, which is important for avoiding fragments and other sentence errors.