Sentence Fragments

Sentence fragments occur when a sentence lacks a subject and/or complete verb, or consists entirely of a subordinate clause. Though sentence fragments can be used in genres like creative writing and advertising for emphasis or stylistic purposes, in formal academic writing fragments can undermine your authority and distract your reader. But don't mistake a sentence that’s simply short for a fragment; a sentence like “I do” is correct because it has both a subject (main noun) and a complete verb.

Fix sentence fragments by adding missing elements, by incorporating the fragment into adjoining sentences, or by dropping the subordinating conjunction.

How to Spot Sentence Fragments

1. Find the main verb in your sentence. Remember that just because your sentence has a verb, that doesn't necessarily mean it has a main verb. Watch out especially for verb forms that require a helping verb. (Sentences lacking a main verb will often sound incomplete when read aloud.)

FRAG The professor waiting all morning for the bus.
SENT The professor, waiting all morning for the bus, grew impatient.
SENT The professor was waiting all morning for the bus.

2. Find the subject of your sentence. Just because your sentence has a noun, that doesn't necessarily mean it has a subject noun. Conversely, your subject might also be a pronoun or a gerund (a verb ending in “ing” that functions as a noun) and may not look like a noun at all. Always ask yourself who/what does, or who/what is, in the sentence. If you can't answer those questions, you've most likely got a fragment.

FRAG The dinosaur magnet fell off the refrigerator. And hit the floor.
SENT The dinosaur magnet fell off the refrigerator and hit the floor.

3. Find the main clause of your sentence. If the sentence cannot stand alone and still make sense, it may be a subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses can be tricky because they often do have a subject noun and a main verb. What they lack is a complete idea. They need to be connected to a main clause to be completed. Ask yourself if this sentence can stand alone and still make sense.

FRAG I will be there whenever you are in trouble. Because you are my friend.
SENT I will be there whenever you are in trouble because you are my friend.

Grammar Interlude

Subordinating Conjunctions
If you're still unsure about whether or not your clause is subordinate, look to see if it begins with one of these subordinating conjunctions. (If it does, you'll need a main clause to complete the sentence):

after
although
as
because
if
once
since
that
unless
until
when
where
whereas
while
who/whom
what
whose
which
whatever
whoever
whomever

Fixing Sentence Fragments

1. Add the missing element if your sentence is missing a subject (main noun) or a main verb. Remember to look for missing helping verbs and to account for gerunds as potential subjects.

FRAG Living by the sea with her packs of dogs and llamas.
SENT Living by the sea with her packs of dogs and llamas has long been her dream.

2. Incorporate the fragment into an adjoining sentence. Quite often fragments can be built into surrounding sentences, particularly when the fragment is a subordinate clause.

FRAG Handouts can be helpful. When full of examples.
SENT Handouts, when full of examples, can be helpful.

3. Drop the subordinating word. Sometimes you can simply drop the subordinating conjunction (see the list above), leaving you with a main clause that is not dependent on a second clause to complete the action/sentence.

FRAG Because he did not stop to play. He missed the joke.
SENT He did not stop to play. He missed the joke.

Revision Checklist

o Underline the main verb. Does it require a helping verb?
o Underline your subject. Ask who/what does or who/what is.
o Underline subordinating words. Is there a main clause that completes the sentence?

Where in The Bedford Handbook? Section 19: Sentence Fragments