Sentence Fragments — A Comprehensive Guide

A sentence fragment is one of those things you know you’re not supposed to have in your writing but is challenging to recognize. 

Once the days of diagramming sentences are behind you, those grammar rules have a way of fading fast. So, as with many grammar rules, sometimes all you need is a quick refresher to bring it all back. 

Check your text to make sure you’ve amended any sentence fragments, grammar issues, or spelling mistakes with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker.

What Is a Sentence Fragment? 

The term ‘sentence fragment’ hints at its definition. It’s a fragment of a sentence. It’s incomplete. 

A sentence fragment is a clause or phrase that might be punctuated like a sentence but lacks the parts of grammar to make it one. 

The best way to recognize a sentence fragment is to know what it is missing.

The components of a complete sentence

To understand what makes a sentence complete, start with a few key terms:

• Clause: a grammatical construction with a subject and a predicate.
  • Example: The dog eats kibble.
• Subject: consists of a noun and a modifier.
  • Example: The dog
• Predicate: consists of a finite verb and an optional modifier.
  • Example: eats kibble

When a clause has both a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought, it is an independent clause. It is a simple sentence. The rule is the same, no matter how complex the sentence gets.

Independent clause vs. dependent clause

In addition to having a subject and predicate, a clause is independent when it expresses a complete thought. 

A dependent clause also called a subordinate clause, has a subject and a predicate but does not express a complete thought.

A clause’s inability to stand as a sentence is usually due to an introductory word that makes the expressed thought incomplete. Introductory words such as because, that, if, although, as, and when signal a dependent clause. Here are a few examples of how those words change an independent clause to a dependent one:

Independent Clause (Sentence): The dog eats kibble. 

Dependent/Subordinate Clauses:

Because the dog eats kibble

While the dog eats kibble

If the dog eats kibble

Because of those introductory words, the clause no longer expresses a complete thought. In each case, the reader is left thinking, “Yes? And…?”

How to Correct a Sentence Fragment

Once you’ve identified what is missing in a sentence fragment, you can modify the fragment to make it a sentence one of two ways.

Examples of Sentence Fragments:

When my bird sings.

If I eat pizza before lunch

Because my birthday is in July.

1. Correct by removing the introductory word:

My bird sings.

I eat pizza before lunch.

My birthday is in July.

2. Correct by completing the thought:

When my bird sings, my day is brighter.

If I eat pizza, I won’t be able to run a mile after lunch. 

Because my birthday is in July, I have a garden party to celebrate. 

In the second option, each sentence fragment was connected to an independent clause to complete the thought. The method used to correct the sentence fragment depends on what expresses the intended thought.

Types of Sentence Fragments and How to Identify Them

Once you are familiar with the parts of speech that make a complete sentence, it is easy to determine a sentence fragment. A fragment will be missing something or have something added that throws it off target. 

Dependent clause fragment

As covered above, a dependent clause fragment doesn’t express a complete thought even if it has a subject and predicate and is punctuated like a sentence. 

Often, this is because of that additional introductory word that interrupts the complete thought:

My dog eats kibble when.

Missing subject fragment

It's fairly obvious when a subject is missing from a simple sentence:

And wonders when her luck will change.

However, when this type of fragment follows a complete sentence, it can be harder to notice: 

Marjorie waits outside the office. And wonders when her luck will change.

The two sentences together seem to express a complete thought. However, the second “sentence” is missing a subject. The “who” can’t carry over from the preceding sentence, so the fragment needs to be dealt with by combining the two:

Marjorie waits outside the office and wonders when her luck will change.

Missing predicate fragment

Similarly, a sentence fragment may be missing a predicate:

They were tired. Too many unspoken words between them.

The second clause above is just a subject that does not express a complete thought. Adding a predicate corrects this:

They were tired. There were too many unspoken words between them. 

Is It Ever Acceptable to Use Sentence Fragments in Writing?

In formal writing, it is fair to say a sentence fragment is always incorrect and may detract from your content by causing a reader to pause or become confused. 

However, in creative writing, such as fictional prose or marketing copy, the use of a fragment may be a stylistic choice.

Why You Should Correct Fragments in Most Writing

Unless a sentence fragment is very obviously stylistic and powerful, it should be avoided because fragments are, very technically, grammatical errors. 

Errors in your content can interrupt your message and reflect poorly on your company or brand.

If you are ever uncertain whether using a fragment is working to your advantage, it’s best to revise your content and create a complete sentence. 

Conveniently review your copy for grammatical errors like sentence fragments with the Originality.ai Grammar Checker. 

Then, get more insight into grammar best practices in our top guides:

• Capitalization Rules — A Complete Guide + Examples
• Semicolons — How to Use Them Effectively
• When to Use Question Marks: A Complete Guide
• What Are Adjectives? 7 Types of Adjectives