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As a writer, you’ve likely heard the term “fragment” thrown around, but what is a fragment in writing? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into fragments, exploring what they are, how to spot them, and, most importantly, how to avoid them in your writing.
When I started writing, I had no idea what a fragment was. I would string together incomplete thoughts, assuming they made sense because they sounded right in my head. It wasn’t until a kind editor pointed out my mistake that I realized the importance of understanding and avoiding fragments.
A fragment is an incomplete sentence that doesn’t express a complete thought. It may be missing a subject, a verb, or both. Fragments can also occur when a dependent clause (a clause that can’t stand on its own) is punctuated as a sentence.
Here are a few examples of fragments:
While fragments may look like sentences with capitalization and punctuation, they cannot stand alone as complete thoughts.
Fragments can be problematic in writing for several reasons:
However, it’s worth noting that not all fragments are inherently bad. In creative writing, fragments can occasionally be used intentionally for stylistic effect, such as emphasizing a point or creating a sense of urgency. But in most academic and professional contexts, it’s best to use complete sentences to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.
Identifying fragments in your writing can be challenging, but it’s a crucial skill for any writer to master. Fragments are incomplete sentences that don’t express a complete thought, and they can make your writing appear unprofessional and difficult to follow.
Here are three key strategies for spotting fragments in your work:
Fragments are a common issue in writing, but the good news is that they’re relatively easy to fix once you’ve identified them. By understanding the different types of fragments and the strategies for correcting them, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and effective.
One of the most common types of fragments is a sentence that’s missing a subject or a verb. To fix this fragment type, add the missing element to create a complete sentence. For example, consider the fragment “Running down the street.”
This fragment is missing a subject, so to fix it, we could add a subject like “She” or “The dog” to create a complete sentence: “She was running down the street” or “The dog was running down the street.”
Similarly, if a fragment is missing a verb, you can add an appropriate verb to complete the thought. For instance, the fragment “The beautiful sunset” could be fixed by adding a verb like “was” or “appeared”: “The beautiful sunset was breathtaking” or “The beautiful sunset appeared on the horizon.”
Another way to fix fragments is to connect them to a nearby sentence. This strategy works well when the fragment is closely related to the preceding or following sentence.
For example, consider the fragment “Because he was tired.” This fragment is a dependent clause, meaning it can’t stand alone as a complete sentence.
To fix it, we could connect it to the preceding sentence: “He decided to go to bed early because he was tired.” When connecting fragments to nearby sentences, it is important to ensure the resulting sentence is grammatically correct and expresses a complete thought. Be careful not to create run-on sentences in the process.
Sometimes, the best way to fix a fragment is to rewrite it entirely. This strategy works well when the fragment is unclear or doesn’t fit well with the surrounding sentences.
For instance, consider the fragment “The Cat.” This fragment doesn’t express a complete thought, so we must rewrite it to convey a clear message.
We could rewrite it as “The cat sat on the windowsill, watching the birds outside” or “The cat was a fluffy, orange tabby.” When rewriting fragments, aim to create a sentence that expresses a complete thought and fits logically with the rest of your writing.
Identifying and fixing fragments is an important part of the editing process, but catching them on your own can be challenging. That’s why it’s crucial to proofread your work carefully and consider seeking feedback from others.
When proofreading, read your work out loud and listen for any sentences that sound incomplete or abrupt. You can also read your work backward, sentence by sentence, to help you focus on each sentence and identify any fragments.
Ask a friend, colleague, or writing tutor to review your work and provide feedback if possible. A fresh set of eyes can often catch fragments and other errors you might have missed.
By understanding fragments and how to avoid them, you can improve your writing and ensure that your message is clear, concise, and effective.
Yes, just like fragments, run-on sentences can also be a problem in writing. Aim for a mix of short and long sentences to keep your writing engaging and easy to follow.
Practice, practice, practice! The more you write, the better you’ll become at identifying and avoiding common writing pitfalls like fragments. Reading widely and seeking feedback from others can also help you hone your skills over time.
While fragments are generally discouraged in professional and academic writing, they can sometimes be used stylistically in creative writing for emphasis or effect. However, it’s important to use them intentionally and sparingly.
Up until working with Casey, we had only had poor to mediocre experiences outsourcing work to agencies. Casey & the team at CJ&CO are the exception to the rule.
Communication was beyond great, his understanding of our vision was phenomenal, and instead of needing babysitting like the other agencies we worked with, he was not only completely dependable but also gave us sound suggestions on how to get better results, at the risk of us not needing him for the initial job we requested (absolute gem).
This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can't wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.