Major Grammar Errors: Sentence Fragments

When teaching composition or helping your children with writing, it’s best to know how to correct the major grammar errors in it. On Fridays for the rest of July, I will cover four major grammar errors everyone should learn to avoid. The first one is sentence fragments.

Fragments are just that–a fragment of a sentence. When a writer uses a capital letter and end punctuation on something that’s missing a subject, verb, both a subject or a verb, or simply is not a complete thought, it’s a fragment. Here are some examples of fragments:

1. Couldn’t go because I said no.

This is incorrect because it is missing a subject. 

Corrected: She couldn’t go because I said no. 

2. She asking about going. 

This is incorrect because it is missing a verb. 

Corrected: She is asking about going. 

3. Wishing the whole day.

  This is incorrect because it is a phrase, and it’s missing a subject and a verb. 

Corrected: Wishing the whole day, she asked me again if she could go. 

4. Because I said no. 

This is incorrect because it is a dependent/subordinating clause. These cannot stand alone. Even though it has a subject and a verb, it is still not a complete thought. 

Corrected: She couldn’t go because I said no.

5. Wishing the whole day; she asked me again if she could go. 

This is called a semicolon fragment. These occur when you use a semicolon in a sentence incorrectly. Semicolons should have complete sentences on either side of them.

Example: Wishing the whole day, she asked me again if she could go; I said no because she was grounded.

You will see fragments used in novels for effect and in newspapers to save space. Poetry showcases them as well. Formal essay writing, however, is no place for fragments. 

I hope this helps you understand fragments a little better. Please reach out to me if you have questions!
For more on fragments, please see: The Owl at Purdue’s Sentence Fragments and Grammarly’s What is a Sentence Fragment?