Sentence Fragments

Sentence Fragments

A sentence fragment occurs when the sentence is incomplete. A complete sentence must have a subject and a verb. Do not treat a dependent clause or phrase as if it is an independent one.

e.g. We left the party. Since a storm was coming (a dependent clause).

Improved: We left the party, since a storm was coming.  

e.g. Going through all the documents collected all these years (a dependent phrase). We finally discovered the truth of the matter.

Improved: Going through all the documents collected all these years, we finally discovered the truth of the matter.

e.g. Let us help you. Because we know what the problem is (a dependent clause).

Improved: Let us help you because we know what the problem is.

Improved: We know what the problem is. Let us help you.

Improved: We know what the problem is, so let us help you.

Improved: We know what the problem is; let us help you.

Remember, A semi-colon (;) may be used to join two independent sentences, but not a comma (,). A semi-colon may replace a coordinating conjunction, such as and, but, or, nor, for, so, and yet. In other words, you may have the following options when you have two independent sentences:

I will help him. He is my brother. (Keep them separate as two independent sentences.)

I will help him because he is my brother. (Use a subordinating conjunction, e.g. after, when, if, unless, because, for a less important independent sentence.)

I will help him, for he is my brother. (Use a coordinating conjunction, e.g. and, or, nor, but, so, for, yet, to join the independent sentences.)

I will help him; he is my brother. (Use a semi-colon to replace a conjunction.)

I will help him: he is my brother. (Use a colon to replace a conjunction. The difference between a semi-colon and a colon is that a colon always indicates a reason or an explanation.)

Effective Writing Made Simple

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau