Sentence Fragments
Fragments are incomplete sentences.
More often than not a fragementary sentence is the result
of careless writing rather than ignorance of sentence structure.
Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become
disconnected from the main clause. One of the easiest ways
to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment
and the main clause. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed
for the newly combined sentence.
Below are some examples with the fragments shown in italics.
Notice that the fragment is frequently a dependent
clause or long phrase that follows the main clause.
Fragment
(phrase or dependent clause) |
Possible
Revision |
The next afternoon we made
our way through the wreck-strewn harbour of Okinawa. That
island which had made history less than seven years
before. |
The next afternoon we made
our way through the wreck-strewn harbour of Okinawa, the
island which had made history less than seven years
before. |
I cite these examples to
show how interesting accounting can be. And to give
you an idea of the kind of problems an accountant has
to solve. |
I cite these examples to
show how interesting accounting can be, and to give
you an idea of the kind of problems an accountant has
to solve. |
I have been contributing
a small amount to the March of Dimes. Without ever
suspecting that one day a member of my own family might
benefit from this foundation. |
I have been contributing
a small amount to the March of Dimes, without ever
suspecting that one day a member of my own family might
benefit from this foundation. |
The current city policy
on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why
we believe the proposed amendments should be passed. |
Because the current
city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, we
believe the proposed amendments should be passed. |
Some fragments are not clearly pieces of sentences that have
been left unattached to the main clause; they are written
as main clauses but lack a subject or main verb.
Fragment
(incomplete main clause) |
Possible
Revisions |
No
main verb:
By 4-wheel-drive, not to mention your old Buick.
|
That logging road is impassable
by 4-wheel-drive, not to mention your old Buick.
|
Running down the street. |
The girl who is running
down the street is late for her tryst.
|
A record of accomplishment
beginning when you were first hired. |
I've noticed a record of
accomplishment beginning when you were first hired.
or
A record of accomplishment began when you were first hired.
|
No
subject:
Feeling tired, sick, hounded by creditors, and just plain
disgruntled.
|
Feeling tired, sick, hounded
by creditors, and just plain disgruntled, I reached
my limit. |
By paying too much attention
to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose
innovative policies. |
Remove preposition:
Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader
unwilling to propose innovative policies. |
For doing freelance work
for a competitor got Phil fired. |
Remove preposition:
Doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil fired.
Rearrange:
Phil got fired for doing freelance work for a competitor.
|
These last three examples of fragments with no subjects are
also known as mixed constructions, that is, sentences constructed
out of mixed parts. They start one way (often with a long
prepositional phrase) but end with a regular predicate. Usually
the object of the preposition (often a gerund, as in the last
two examples) is intended as the subject of the sentence,
so removing the preposition at the beginning is usually the
easiest way to edit such errors.
Online quiz
Click
here to check your ability to handle sentence fragments. |
