Sentence Fragments: A Tutorial Offering Strategies to Clarify Meaning

Fragments: small parts separated from the whole

• Fragments laying on the ground from the broken pottery made it impossible to identify its original form.
• Fragments of the puzzle scattered on the table confused the image in the mind of the viewers.
• Fragments of words sparked ideas without providing cohesive thoughts to the listeners.

When confronted by a fragment, the observer or reader is presented with an incomplete image that generates more questions than answers. In writing, it is the author's responsibility to communicate with clarity. However, sometimes it is difficult when writers subconsciously fill in the gaps and read what they think a sentences says. 

Often the words on the page make sense to writers, the creator, because they infer meaning to the incomplete phrase. However fragmented thoughts challenge readers to create meaning increasing frustration while decreasing understanding. Writers may not realize the confusion because they do not possess strategies to identify a sentence fragment.

Editors and teachers are notorious for scribbling "frag" in the margin of a narrative to notify writers of an error. These four letters cause frustration for many as they do not communicate complete thoughts to a writer or provide suggestions for revision.

Writers often question how to revise. Should they add transitions to glue the clauses together, alter punctuation to clarify connections, or simply throw their art away and begin again?

This tutorial provides definitions first because as with a puzzle it is easier to identify the whole picture when the frame is in place. An understanding of the vocabulary creates the framework. Readers who possess a strong vocabulary and understanding of grammar may wish to skip to the revision strategies provided. 

Definitions with examples

Sentence

A complete unit of thought that stands alone and communicates a clear meaning.

Independent clause

• A sentence that is grammatically complete.
• Contains a subject and a predicate.
• Communicates a complete thought

Makes sense and stands on its own with the need of prior information or an explanation.

Example: The dog ran.

Subject

The part of a sentence that indicates the topic or who/what performs the action.

Example: In the backyard, the dog ran around chasing the squirrel.

Predicate

The part of a sentence including the verb and every word that follows.

Example: In the backyard, the dog ran around chasing the squirrel.

Yes, that's quite a few definitions but put them together and memories of an English teacher's lecture will flash in your mind. A sentence is a complete thought that contains a subject and a predicate to communicate a message without any additional information. 

Phrase or incomplete sentence 

An incomplete thought that needs clarifying to be understood.

Examples:

• In the backyard.
• Ran around chasing the squirrel.

Dependent clause

A phrase that needs additional information to be understood. Often, dependent clauses gain clarity if they are connected to the sentence before or after them in the paragraph.

Sentence fragment

A phrase that looks like a sentence but does not contain an independent clause. When analyzing a group of words, look for the main clause. Three things must be identified:

1. Subject 
2. Predicate 
3. Complete thought

If one of these three items are missing, a fragment result.

Examples of fragments

A phrase with a subject

And yawned loudly enough to make everyone in class turn around.

The above phrase does not state who yawned. Information is missing for understanding.

1. Subject = Ø 
2. Predicate = yawned 
3. Complete thought = Ø

Revised Example

The student in the back row yawned loud enough to make everyone in the class turn around.

A phrase without a predicate

The boy sitting on the fire escape dropping water balloons on the pedestrians below.

Phrases like this one confuse writers because at first it appears the boy is sitting and dropping but here these words simply describe which boy, the one sitting on the fire escape and the one dropping the water balloons. For these words to serve as the predicate in the sentence they need to directly explain the actions of the boy

1. Subject = boy 
2.  Predicate = Ø 
3.  Complete thought = Ø

Revised Example 

They boy on the fire escape dropped water balloons on the pedestrians below.

A phrase without a complete thought

This example shares a phrases that contains a subject and a predicate but since it begins with a preposition, a clause is created that does not communicate a complete thought. 

After Gabe ate half a box of Canine Cookies.

1.  Subject = Gabe 
2.  Predicate = ate
3.  Complete thought = Ø

Revised Example

After Gabe ate half a box of Canine Cookies, his older brother told him they were dog food.

Revision strategies to correct errors

Error #1

I need to study more for my math class. Because I am failing.

Do not add information to a sentence by tacking on a phrase and punctuating it as a sentence because phrases do not communicate clearly when they stand alone. Phrases should be united to the original sentence.

In this example, the second sentence is a dependent clause and needs to be connected to the independent clause.

Revised Example

I need to study more for my math class because I am not doing very well.

Error #2 

The heat in Arizona makes life difficult. In the summer are unbearable and winters are not much better.

Each sentence should include a subject. Simply inserting a synonym or using a pronoun that refers back to the subject of the prior sentence fixes the problem.

Revised Examples 

The heat in Arizona makes life difficult. Temperatures in the summer are unbearable and winters are not much better.

The heat in Arizona make life difficult. In the summer it is unbearable, and winters are not much better.

Error #3

Well-written essay with numerous of facts and proper citations.

Each sentence should contain a verb, also known as the predicate. When a verb is missing, the sentence holds no action and both the subject and the predicate can become unclear.

Revised Example

 She turned in a well-written essay with numerous facts and proper citations.

If you have encountered "frag" scribbled in the margin and wondered what it means or how to efficiently revise, apply these strategies so your submissions will garner attention for their succinct message instead of leaving the reader questioning the meaning.

Note: Fragments can often be found in writing, such as novels and personal interest pieces that appear in newspapers and magazines. In these cases, fragments are used for effect by the writer who is aware of why and how breaking the rule impacts the writing. However, in the hands of a beginning writer, fragments should be avoided.