By Timothy McIntyre
Sentence Fragments are a group of words that pretend to be a sentence. These fragments are easy to recognize when they appear out of context. To be a sentence, a word group must consist of at least one full independent clause. When fragments appear next to related sentences, however, they are harder to spot. Here's an example of a Fragment. (On the wooden stool in the corner of my grandmother's kitchen.)A good way to spot for sentence Fragments would be a sentence that doesn't make sense to you at all. The point of a fragment is a lacking subject, this is the main way to detect a sentence Fragment.
THE PROBLEM
1.) Problems occur with Fragments because they are difficult to find, while in this process people tend to get frustrated, and give up all together. A Fragment is also something that runs together, which causes people to get confused about the topic of the sentence. You can spot Fragments by reading aloud and listening for minor errors.
2.) Visualize what the sentence is asking for and realize that you need to understand it as well as your audience.
EXAMPLES
Incorrect: The pilots ejected from the burning plane, landing in the water not far from their ship. And immediately pooped their flares and life vests.
HOW TO IDENTIFY A FRAGMENT
1.) Problems occur with Fragments because they are difficult to find, while in this process people tend to get frustrated, and give up all together. A Fragment is also something that runs together, which causes people to get confused about the topic of the sentence. You can spot Fragments by reading aloud and listening for minor errors.
2.) Visualize what the sentence is asking for and realize that you need to understand it as well as your audience.
3.) Always check your fragment to see if it has a subject, if not work with the sentence and word the sentence the way it can be understandable.
4.) After all these steps, you should check once more, to see if the sentence has a topic, and of course makes sense.
5.) Helpful ideas are always important in writing a sentence; what I mean by this is good thoughts always result in great sentences.
6.) Incomplete thoughts are assumed to be known as incompetence of the student. As a result people start to slack witch results in bad work.
7.) Sentences need to be completed because if there not they are considered fragments or run ons.
8). Once completed you need to ask a friend or teacher to proof read it, and help you with mistakes. You do this because if not done your paper will result in an incomplete paper. The last key (major) fact in finding a Fragment is to hear the sentence, and realize if it's right or wrong.
HOW TO FIX IT
A way fix these, minor errors is carefully look over your work at all times. Next you need to understand why fragment is what it is, A fragment are sentence that don't have a simple subject or predicate, without these two objects you wouldn't have a complete sentence.
Incorrect: The pilots ejected from the burning plane, landing in the water not far from their ship. And immediately pooped their flares and life vests.
When fragments appear next to related sentences, however they are harder to spot.
Correct: The pilots ejected from the burning plane, landing in the water not far from their ship, and they immediately popped their flares and life vests.
Explanation: As you see in the sentences the first one is incorrect and the second one is correct. Figure out way you need a subject in a sentence and format your sentence the way it would make sense, not only to you but your fellow classmates as well.
ADDINTIIONAL RESOURESES
Relevant sections in the Bedford Handbook:
See sections 19 (Repair sentence fragments) p284-285, 19a (attach fragmented subordinate clauses or turn tem into sentences) p286, 19b (Fragments) p287-288, 19c p289-290, 19d, (Exception: Occasionally a fragment may be used deliberately, for effect) p291-295.
