Learning about this problem is the first step in preventing it. The following 4 points will explain how to avoid using sentence fragments in your writing. A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence because it lacks a subject, lacks a verb, or is a dependent. Avoiding sentence fragments long beach city college. March 2018 avoiding fragments, fused sentences, and. Some fragments are incomplete because they lack either a subject or a verb, or both. A brief lesson on how to avoid and correct sentence fragments or incomplete sentences in writing. Sample sentences with explanations, practice activities with answer key p. To correct it, just add the missing subject or verb to the sentence. Combining clauses to avoid comma splices, runons, and fragments. Complete sentences state complete thoughts and contain both a subject and a verb expressing an action done by or to that subject. Fragments strategies for avoiding sentence fragments p.
Sentence fragments and runon sentences lone star college. It begins with the words which, because, although, before, while. Fragments are not real sentences because they lack one or more of those three criteria. Avoiding fragments with dependent clauses the writing center. A sentence fragment results when a group of words that is not a sentence is trying to pose as. Although sentence fragments appear in creative and informal writing, avoid them in academic and professional writing. To avoid sentence fragments, make sure your sentence includes a complete idea using both a subject and a verb.
Mark the complete sentences with an s and the sentence fragments with an f. Avoiding and correcting sentence fragments youtube. If your sentence has a subject without a verb, or a verb thats not connected to a subject, thats a red flag that you may have a sentence fragment on your hands. A sentence fragment results when a group of words that is not a sentence is trying to pose as one. If youre interested in improving your writing further, check out my book by clicking the link. Remember that in order to be a sentence or complete thought or independent thought or independent clause, a group of words must. Avoiding sentence fragments what is a sentence fragment. Fragments confuse readers because the lack of a subject, verb, or both makes your meaning incomplete and unclear. Fragments are incomplete sentences, which means they cannot stand. Avoiding sentence fragments kennesaw state university. Such a phrase consisting of a subject and a verb with complete meaning is also called an independent clause. The data are inconclusive, the researchers will repeat the experiment. Dependent clause cues and signals are also known as subordinating conjunctions. Many writers use incomplete sentences, or fragments, here and there.
In formal writing, or if you are writing to impress someone, such as your english grammar instructor or your boss, you should avoid using sentence fragments. Student will be able to write complete sentences by avoiding sentence fragments. If there is no subject or no verb in a clause, this sentence is incomplete, and it is considered a fragment. In general, a sentence can consist of multiple combinations of independent and dependent clauses, and most often fragments happen when there is a dependent clause in it. They lack the clarity of complete sentences, and they sound less professional.
Return to all guides the data are inconclusive the researchers will repeat their experiment. Combining clauses to avoid comma splices, runons, and. Sentence, fragments, and runons sentencefragmentrunon. So it does not meet the three requirements of a sentence. Sentence structure fragments, runons, comma splices. Avoiding fragments, fused sentences, and comma splices. A complete sentence has minimally two parts, a subject and a verb. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Since the young candidate was a graduate of wayne community college in 1985. Use commas to prevent possible confusion or misreading. This fragment has a subject and a verb but does not make a complete thought meaning it cannot stand on its own. The fragments that most students have trouble with, however, are dependent clausesthey have a subject and a verb, so they look like complete sentences, but they dont express a complete thought.
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