Writing Fragments: A Guide to Completing Sentences

Imagine this: You are reading an interesting book, and just when you are about to find out a big secret, the sentence stops suddenly.

It leaves you hanging for what happens next.

Frustrating, right?

Well this feeling happens when a sentence is incomplete, which is called a sentence fragment. 

It can disturb the flow of reading and make your writing feel incomplete. 

What are writing fragments? How to avoid them? What’s the key to writing complete sentences like an expert?

Looking for answers to these questions? 

You have come to the right guide.

In today’s guide, you will explore what sentence fragments are, why they happen, and how to fix them to make your writing more impactful. By the end of this post, you will be able to turn fragments into clear, complete sentences. 

What are sentence fragments?

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences. 

In simple words, they are groups of words that look like sentences, but in reality, they are not. 

A complete sentence has a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought. Take a look at this example.

Fragment

Because I was tired.

Complete sentence

Because I was tired, I went to bed early.

In the fragment, we do not know what happened because the thought is incomplete. The complete sentence, on the other hand, gives us the full picture of what happened.

The impact of sentence fragments

Before we get into how to fix sentence fragments, let’s first understand their impact. 

The majority of students struggle with writing complete sentences, which affects their grades. 

Imagine submitting an assignment to your professor filled with fragments; it will confuse your mentor.

Additionally, fragments can affect your readers’ experience. 

How?

They can make your writing seem disjointed and harder to follow. 

Didn’t you know that clear communication is the key to success in writing?

That’s why you should master the art of writing complete sentences. 

Common causes of sentence fragments

Understanding why fragments happen is the first step to avoiding them. Here are the most common causes of sentence fragments:

1. Dependent clauses

Dependent clauses are a group of words with a subject and a verb. However, they cannot express a complete thought.

They need another part of the sentence to make sense. 

Let’s take a look at this example of the dependent clause:

Fragment

Although Jack was hungry.

Complete sentence

Although Jack was hungry, he decided to wait for dinner.

The dependent clause, “Although Jack was hungry,” needs the other portion of the sentence to convey the thought clearly.

2. Missing subjects or verbs

Sometimes, a sentence lacks either a subject or a verb. Consider this example:

Missing subject 

Fragment

Running through the park.

Complete sentence

Angela was running through the park.

Without the subject “Angela,” you do not know who is running.

Now, take a glance at the example of the verb.

Missing verb 

Fragment

The cat in the yard.

Complete sentence

The cat is in the yard.

In this example, the fragment “The cat in the yard” lacks a verb, so we add “is” to make it a complete sentence.

3. Phrases

Phrases like prepositional phrases, participial phrases, or infinitive phrases can lead to fragments if not connected to a main clause.

Prepositional phrases

Fragment

Under the old pine tree.

Complete sentence

Johnson and Smith played under the old pine tree.

In the fragment, you do not know what happened under the tree. The complete sentence provides the necessary context.

Participial phrases

Fragment

Exhausted from the long run.

Complete sentence

Exhausted from the long run, Emily collapsed on the grass.

This fragment leaves us wondering who is tired and what they did. The complete sentence clearly describes the situation. 

Infinitive phrases

Fragment

To finish the project on time.

Complete sentence

To finish the project on time, Charlotte worked late into the night.

The fragment does not tell us who is finishing the project or what actions are taken. It is the complete sentence that provides the information. 

4. Incorrect use of conjunctions

Using conjunctions incorrectly can result in fragments. 

Conjunctions like “but,” “and,” “because,” and “or” let you connect ideas.

Fragment

And decided to go home.

Complete sentence

Ava was tired and decided to go home.

Starting a sentence with a conjunction leaves the thought incomplete.

5. Lists and examples

You may fall into the trap of fragments when creating a list or writing an example if each item is not a complete thought. 

Fragment

For example, running, swimming, and jumping.

Complete sentence

Katherine enjoys many activities, for example, running, swimming and jumping.

You can avoid the fragment by connecting the list to a complete sentence. 

Why is it important to avoid fragments?

Avoiding sentence fragments is crucial if you want clear communication. 

Complete sentences help your readers clearly understand your message, whether you are writing an essay, a novel, or a report. 

On the other hand, fragments can confuse your readers. 

Moreover, fragments can negatively impact your credibility as a writer.

How?

Clear and complete sentences show that you are well-versed in language and can communicate effectively.

Fixing sentence fragments is not all about acing your English class or impressing your mentor. It’s about effective communication in all areas of life. 

Here are some real-world applications:

1. Professional communication

In the professional field, clear and complete sentences are important. Fragments can make your business writing confusing and unprofessional. 

2. Academic writing

Professors and peers need to comprehend your arguments and ideas in the academic setting. Here, fragments can obscure your messages and make your writing hard to understand and follow. 

3. Creative writing

While some writers use fragments for stylistic purposes, it’s important to know the rules before breaking them. Understanding how to write complete sentences gives you the base to experiment with the style.

4. Everyday communication

Even in daily communication, avoiding fragments helps you convey your thoughts clearly. Whether you are writing a concise social media post or texting your buddy, complete sentences make your message easy to understand. 

How to identify sentence fragments?

Identifying fragments in your writing can be challenging. Here are some tips to accomplish this task:

1. Read aloud

It would be best to read your sentences out loud. If a sentence sounds incomplete, it may be a fragment.

2. Check for subject and verb

You need to make sure each sentence contains a clear subject and a verb. A sentence without these two parts is likely a fragment. 

3. Look for complete thoughts

Reread each sentence to ensure it conveys a thought clearly. If it does not, it may be fragmented. 

4. Use a grammar checker

There are many online grammar checker tools available that can help you trace fragments. While they are not 100% perfect, they can be a good starting point. 

Steps to fix sentence fragments and writing complete sentences 

Now that you know how to identify fragments, let’s talk about fixing them. Follow these straightforward steps:

1. Add the missing parts

First and foremost, you need to add the necessary parts if your sentence is missing a subject or a verb.

Fragment

After the party.

Complete Sentence

After the party, they went to a café.

By adding the rest of the thought, you can create a complete sentence.

2. Connect the fragment to a nearby sentence

Sometimes, fragments can be fixed by attaching them to the sentence before or after them.

You can fix fragments by attaching them to the sentence before or after them. 

How?

Take a glance at this example:

Fragment

The dog barked loudly. Which scared us.

Complete sentence

The dog barked loudly, which scared us.

We fixed the fragment by connecting it to the previous sentence. 

3. Revise the fragment

Sometimes, revising the fragment can help you solve the problem.

Fragment

Running late for school.

Complete sentence

John was running late for school.

Revising the fragment helps us include the missing parts and complete the sentence.

4. Paraphrase Incomplete Fragments

Don\'t discard the fragment! Sometimes, you can paraphrase the incomplete thought into a complete sentence that still conveys your original meaning.

Manually paraphrasing an incomplete sentence fragment can be tough as it requires good writing skills. You can use an online paraphraser to paraphrase the fragment and complete it.

Think of it like taking an unfinished puzzle and rearranging the pieces to create a complete picture.

Fragment

Running late for school.

Complete sentence (Paraphrased)

The school bell was about to ring (implying the person is running late).

5. Break up long sentences

Most often, what seems like a fragment is actually part of a long, complex sentence. You need to break up long sentences to clarify your thoughts. 

Read this example:

Long sentence

Evelyn was tired from the long day at work, which included several meetings, and decided to go home early to rest.

Revised sentences

Evelyn was tired from the long day at work. The day included several meetings. She decided to go home early to rest.

Here, breaking the sentence into smaller, manageable parts makes the text clearer and easier to read.

The Bottom Line 

Writing complete sentences is an art that takes practice, but it’s worth the effort. 

Complete sentences make your writing impactful and enjoyable to read. By understanding what fragments are and how to fix them, you can easily improve your writing and communicate effectively. 

Do you remember feeling frustrated when a sentence does not make sense?

So, avoid leaving your readers hanging. Give them a clear picture of the story. Happy writing!