Fragments

Fragments are incomplete sentences. More often than not a fragmentary sentence is the result
of careless writing rather than the 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 kind of punctuation
may be needed for the newly combined sentence.

There are 3 steps or tips to remember when writing sentences to avoid fragments.

 Start every sentence with a Person, Place, or thing.

 Avoid sentences with Which, Who, Like , and Such as.

- Like my cousin Jane who works in a big hospital. FRAGMENT

- Like many children, Blake loves to play with his Legos. CORRECT

 Avoid starting sentences with an ING word.

- Jumping up and down with joy when her father walked in the door. FRAGMENT

- Molly jumped up and down with joy when her father walked in the door. CORRECT

Fragment Possible Revision

(phrase or dependent clause)
1. 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.
1. 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.

2. I cite these examples to show how interesting 2. I cite these examples to show how interesting
accounting can be. And to give you an idea of the accounting can be, and to give you an idea of the
kind of problems an accountant has to solve. kind of problems an accountant has to solve.

3. I have been contributing a small amount to the 3. I have been contributing a small amount to the
March of Dimes. Without ever suspecting that one March of Dimes, without ever suspecting that one
day a member of my own family might benefit day a member of my own family might benefit
from this foundation. from this foundation.
 Fragmet Possible Revision
(incomplete main caluse)
No main verb:

By 4-wheel,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
I've noticed a record of
were first hired.
accomplishment
beginning when you
were first hired.
or
A record of
accomplishment began
when you were first
No subject:
hired.
Feeling tired, sick, hounded by creditors, and just Feeling tired, sick,
plain disgruntled. hounded by creditors,
and just plain
disgruntled, I reached
my limit.
Remove preposition:
By paying too much attention to polls can make a
Paying too much
political leader unwilling to propose innovative
attention to polls can
policies.
make a political leader
unwilling to propose
innovative policies.
Remove preposition:
For doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil Doing freelance work
fired. for a competitor got
Phil fired.
Rearrange:
Phil got fired for doing
freelance work for a
competitor.

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https://www.writewithjean.com/2017/05/01/easy-ways-avoid-sentence-fragments/