Identifying and Avoiding Fragments

What are Fragments? Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences which have become disconnected from the main clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence.

Examples Fragment:Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Possible Revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

More Examples Fragment: I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I have now isn't working out too well. Possible Revision: I need to find a new roommate because the one I have now isn't working out too well.

Examples Continued  Fragment: The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands. Which is why we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.  Possible Revision: Because the current city policy on housing is incomplete as it stands, we believe the proposed amendments should be passed.

Fragment Signifiers If you start a sentence with any of the following words, you should probably look at it again to make sure it is not a fragment. – That – Then – Than – Which – Because

How Else Can You Tell It’s a Fragment? If you read the sentence by itself and it leaves questions unanswered, you probably have a fragment. Example: – That was when I left. Who is “I?” Where did he/she leave to? What caused him/her to leave?

Practice! Although women's college basketball in Connecticut is a marvelously entertaining and popular sport. It's not hard to remember. When it was not so popular. Which is hard to believe. Only a few years ago, my friends and I to go to a women's basketball game. If more than a couple of hundred fans showed up for a game. It was considered a big turnout. And games were played in practically silent gyms. Because the fans didn't care who won. Nowadays, it almost impossible to buy tickets to a women's game, and you can't get seats. Unless you know someone.

More Practice Write a word paragraph USING fragments. You may use any of the topics below: – A Cell Phone Conversation – A Break Up Letter – A Termination Letter – “Winning the Lottery” Directions