THE PROBLEM: Are you tired of your teachers busting on you for fragments? Well here are some great tips on how to spot fragments and also how to repair them!

Although students use fragments in writing, they should be used cautiously and rarely. We all have a tough time distinguishing when we are supposed to use them.

 Here are 3 questions you can ask yourself to see if you have written a complete sentence?

• Does the group of words have a subject?
• Does it have a verb?
• Does it express a complete thought?

 EXAMPLES & CORRECTIONS:

1. Incorrect: We can let them go or we can take advantage of them. By taking advantage of them it will allow to change. (b.kerrigan) 

Correct: We can let them go or we can take advantage of them, which allows us to change.

Explanation: Attached a fragmented subordinate clause “which”. Subordinate clauses function within sentences as adjectives, as adverbs, or as nouns.

 2. Incorrect: I think after I am done writing this I am going to look into getting it changed. Anyways. (m.aderson)

Correct: I think after I am done writing this I am going to look into getting it changed.

Explanation: You have to delete the anyways, because it just doesn’t make sense.

3. Incorrect: My father buys all these little appetizers, and we eat everything. From stuffed clams, to crackers with cheese, and some red wine to wash everything down. (m.schmidt)

Correct: My father buys all these little appetizers, and we eat everything, stuffed clams, crackers with cheese, and some red wine to wash everything down.

Explanation: There is no subject in the sentence, and you can not begin a sentence with “from”.

 OFFICIAL RULE: To be a sentence, a word group must consist of at least one full independent clause. An independent clause has a subject and a verb, and it either stands alone or could stand alone. (p. 284)

"Attach fragmented subordinate clauses to turn them into sentences" (p. 286)

Examples: phrases that begin with if, as, since, before, unless, than, that, how, why

Incorrect: Jane will address the problem of limited on-campus parking. If she is elected specials student adviser.

Correct: Jane will address the problem of limited on-campus parking if she is elected special student advisor.

"Attach fragmented phrases or turn them into sentences (p.287)

Incorrect: The panther lay quite motionless behind the rock. Waiting silently for its prey. 

Correct: The panther lay quite motionless behind the rock, waiting silently for its prey.

 "Attach other fragmented word groups or turn them into sentences" (p. 288)

Incorrect: The woodpecker finch of the Galapagos Islands carefully selects a twig of a certain size and shape. And then uses this tool to pry out grubs from trees.

Correct: The woodpecker finch of the Galapagos Islands carefully selects a twig of a certain size and shape and then uses this tool to pry out grubs from trees.

(Source: Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook, 5th ed. Boston, MA: St. Martin’s, 1998.)

 TRANSLATION: In other words, it's a sentence that doesn't make sense, or a incomplete sentence.

HOW TO FIND AND FIX FRAGMENTS:

1) Read out loud, to see if the sentence makes sense, pausing at each period.

2) Work from a printout, not on a computer screen. 3.) Use a blank sheet of paper to cover up the lines, so you can read them one by one.

4) Ask yourself these questions:

" Is there a verb?

" Is there a subject?

" Is the word group merely a subordinate clause or phrase?

5) Go to a writing center or use a writer's hand book

6) Use grammar check to help you spot fragments, but be careful using spell check because sometimes it's not always right.

7) Read though the sentence once (backwards, sentence by sentence) to check for fragments; through again (forward) to be sure subjects and verbs agree

8) Skim your sentences to see if they begin with "and" or "because"

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Relevant sections in the Bedford Handbook: See all of section 19 (284-295)

ON-LINE RESOURCES: