 A word group that is missing one or more of the following elements is a fragment:  a subject  a verb  a complete thought

 Every sentence must:  Have a subject  Have a verb  Express a complete thought

 There are 4 types of fragments:  1. dependent word fragments  2. -ing and “to” fragments  3. added detail fragments  4. missing subject fragments

 Dependent words are usually prepositions or transitions.  Here are some:  After  Although, though  As  Because  Before  Even though See the list of common dependent words on page 444

 Dependent word fragments do NOT express a complete thought.

 Example (incorrect): After the game. I went straight to sleep.

 Example (corrected): After the game, I went straight to sleep.

 Example (corrected): After the game, I went straight to sleep.

 Example (corrected): After the game, I went straight to sleep. OR I went straight to sleep after the game.

 To correct a dependent word fragment, you can attach it to the sentence that comes before or the sentence that comes after.

 When you attach the dependent word fragment to the sentence that comes after it, you need a comma between the clauses. Fragment: After I learned the price of new cars. Corrected: After I learned the price of new cars, I decided to keep my old pickup. I decided to keep my old pickup after I learned the price of new cars.

 When you attach a dependent word fragment to the sentence that comes before it, you DO NOT need a comma between the clauses. Fragment: After I learned the price of new cars. Corrected: I decided to keep my old pickup after I learned the price of new cars.

 That means you CAN start a sentence with because, as long as the clause is attached to a complete sentence: These examples are both correct:  Because the frog was slimy, she threw it down.  She threw down the frog because it was slimy.

 Fix dependent word fragments by attaching it to the sentence that comes before or after it.

 Sometimes, dependent word fragments occur when the dependent word is NEAR the beginning of the sentence.  This happens with words like: who, that, which, where Example (incorrect): A place where I go.

 Example: After the game, I went straight to sleep. Or I went straight to sleep after the game.

 When an “–ing” word appears at or near the beginning of a word group, an –ing fragment may result. Example (incorrect): Trying to find my lunch. I tripped on the leg of a chair.

 When an “–ing” word appears at or near the beginning of a word group, an –ing fragment may result. Example (incorrect): Trying to find my lunch. I tripped on the leg of a chair.

 When an “–ing” word appears at or near the beginning of a word group, an –ing fragment may result. Example (corrected): Trying to find my lunch, I tripped on the leg of a chair.

 -ing fragments do not express a complete thought

 Correct an –ing fragment by attaching it to the sentence that comes before or after.

Example (correct):  Trying to find my lunch, I tripped on the leg of the chair.  I tripped on the leg of the chair trying to find my lunch.

Example (incorrect): Trying to find my lunch. Example (correct):  Trying to find my lunch, I tripped on the leg of the chair.  I tripped on the leg of the chair trying to find my lunch.

 Cooking for the baby was difficult for me.  For me, it was difficult cooking for the baby

 Watch out for fragments that begin with the word “being.”  Example (incorrect):  She was mad. Being that I was late.  Examples (correct):  She was mad because I was late.  I was late and she was mad.

 Never use “being” as a verb in an academic essay.

 Also watch out for “to” fragments.  “to” fragments do not express a complete thought.

 “to” fragments are word groups that have “to” at or near the beginning.  Example (incorrect): I went to the store. To buy ice cream.

 Correct “to” fragments by adding it to the sentence before the fragment  Example (correct): I went to the store to buy ice cream.

 Added detail fragments lack a subject and a verb.  They also often begin with one of the following words:  Also  Especially  Except  For example  Including  Such as

 Missing subject fragments are missing a subject.  Example (incorrect):  The truck skidded on the highway. But missed a telephone pole.

 Fix missing subject fragments by connecting it to the sentence before OR adding a subject.  Example (incorrect):  `The truck skidded on the highway. But missed a telephone pole.  Example (correct):  The truck skidded on the highway but missed a telephone pole.

 Correct added detail fragments by (correct):  1. connect it to the sentence before  I love to eat Italian food, especially lasagna.  2. add a subject and a verb to make it complete.  I love to eat Italian food. I especially love lasagna.  3. change the wording to combine it with the proceeding sentence  I love lasagna and I love all Italian food.

 A missing subject fragment is a word group that is missing a subject. To fix, either:  1. add it to the sentence before  2. add a subject