Sentence fragment

Definition

A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought and is not a full sentence on its own. It typically lacks either a subject, a verb, or does not convey a complete idea, making it dependent on other clauses for meaning. Recognizing and correcting sentence fragments is essential for clear and effective writing.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sentence fragments often occur when the writer mistakenly believes that a dependent clause is a complete sentence.
2. Common indicators of sentence fragments include phrases starting with subordinating conjunctions like 'because,' 'although,' or 'when.'
3. To correct a sentence fragment, you can attach it to an independent clause or revise it to make it a complete thought.
4. In informal writing, sentence fragments might be used intentionally for stylistic reasons, but in formal writing, they should be avoided.
5. Identifying sentence fragments is crucial for improving overall sentence structure and coherence in writing.

Review Questions

• How can you identify a sentence fragment in your writing?
  • You can identify a sentence fragment by looking for groups of words that lack either a subject or a verb or do not express a complete thought. Common signs include phrases that begin with subordinating conjunctions like 'because' or 'although,' which indicate that the phrase is dependent on another clause for meaning. By checking if the phrase could stand alone as a complete sentence, you can determine whether it's a fragment.
• What strategies can be used to correct sentence fragments in your writing?
  • To correct sentence fragments, you can combine them with nearby independent clauses to form complete sentences. Another approach is to revise the fragment by adding necessary components such as subjects or verbs to make them complete thoughts. Additionally, reviewing your work for common indicators of fragments can help catch them before finalizing your writing.
• Evaluate the impact of using sentence fragments on the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.
  • Using sentence fragments can significantly hinder the clarity and effectiveness of your writing by creating confusion for the reader. Fragments can disrupt the flow of ideas and lead to misinterpretation since they do not convey complete thoughts. In formal writing contexts, maintaining clear and coherent sentences is essential, and relying on fragments can detract from the overall professionalism of the text. Therefore, being aware of and correcting fragments enhances communication and helps convey ideas more effectively.

Related terms

independent clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought, capable of standing alone as a sentence.

dependent clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought, requiring an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

run-on sentence: A grammatical error that occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunctions.