Sentence Fragment
A sentence fragment is a group of words that looks like a sentence but isn't. In other words, a sentence fragment starts with a capital letter and has end punctuation (such as a period (full stop), a question mark, exclamation mark, or a semicolon) but does not qualify as a sentence.
Table of Contents
- Sentence Fragments (Examples That Do Not Give a Complete Thought)
- Sentence Fragments (Examples without a Subject)
- Sentence Fragments (Examples without a Verb)
- Sentence Fragments As a Writing Tool
- Why Sentence Fragments Are Important
- Test Time!
Remember that a sentence is a group of words that has the following three traits:
- (Trait 1) A sentence gives a complete thought.
- (Trait 2) A sentence contains a subject.
- (Trait 3) A sentence contains a verb.
If a group of words is missing one of these traits, then it is a sentence fragment.
Sentence Fragments (Examples That Do Not Give a Complete Thought)
The shaded text in each example below is a sentence fragment because it does not give a complete thought.
- Nothing is an obstacle. Unless you say it is. (Entrepreneur Wally Amos)
- When the egg whites have the consistency of shaving foam. Stop whipping and add the vanilla essence.
- Humans are the only animals that have children on purpose with the exception of guppies. Who like to eat theirs. (Journalist P J O'Rourke)
correct these examples
This type of sentence fragment is particularly common with clauses that start with "which."
- I really hate mowing the grass. Which is a problem because I have a huge lawn.
- Every journalist has a novel in him. Which is an excellent place for it. (Historian Russell Lynes)
- She had a pretty gift for quotation. Which is a serviceable substitute for wit. (Playwright W. Somerset Maugham)
correct these examples
A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence is called a dependent clause. A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence is called an independent clause. If you punctuate a dependent clause like a sentence (like all the shaded texts above), then you have written a sentence fragment.
Here are some examples of sentence fragments without subjects.
- The tallest man ever recorded was Robert Wadlow (1918-1940). Stood 8 feet 11 inches.
- Google was originally called Google Backrub. Renamed Google after googol, the number one followed by 100 zeros.
- Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the world. Kill more people than any other creature, due to the diseases they carry.
correct these examples
Here are some examples of sentence fragments without verbs.
- The best of times, the worst of times.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "strengths," the longest word in English with one vowel.
- Hawaiian pizza created in Canada by a Greek immigrant in 1962.
- At 122 years old, Jeanne Louise Calment, the oldest person ever to have lived.
correct these examples
More about Sentence Fragments
Sentence Fragments As a Writing Tool
In all the examples above, the sentence fragments are mistakes. However, not all sentence fragments are errors. As shown below, writers often use them deliberately for relaying information quickly (particularly when creating drama or surprise) and for emphasis. Also, as we don't talk in perfect sentences, written dialogue is usually crammed with sentence fragments.
Sentence fragments are highly expected in verse (e.g., poetry, song lyrics) but less so in formal prose (e.g., business writing). Nevertheless, sentence fragments can be used in formal prose, particularly for emphasis.
Why Sentence Fragments Are Important
Here are three good reasons to think more carefully about sentence fragments.
(Reason 1) Using sentence fragments for creating drama.
- She needed an answer. Tick tick tick. An answer now. Tick tick. Please, now. Tick tick. Now or never.
- A tall figure emerged from the shadow. Nicely dressed. Suddenly too close. Staring straight at me. Closing. Do I know him? No. Wave of fear. Teeth!
Quick-fire, back-to-back sentences and sentence fragments are also known as staccato sentences.
(Reason 2) Using sentence fragments for creating surprise.
- She heard a tinkle. She looked at the leaves. She kicked them aside. Another tinkle of metal. She brushed her foot over the leaves again. Her ring! A ray of unblemished sparkle. As perfect as the day it was crafted.
(Reason 3) Using sentence fragments for emphasis.
- The booklet was gone. At the back? No, definitely, missing. Stolen.
- We have considered your solution and are impressed by its practicality. It looks viable. Very viable indeed.
- Here are your deals. Not just any deals. Your deals. (This is an extract from an eBay marketing email.)
Key Points
- Take care when rewriting sentences. If you change a sentence, check the surrounding sentences to ensure you haven't truncated one into a sentence fragment.
- Sentence fragments are useful for creating drama and surprise. These effects are achieved by accelerating the reading pace as only the essential information is presented.
- Sentence fragments are useful for creating emphasis. This effect is usually achieved with quick-fire repetition of an idea.
This page was written by Craig Shrives.
