What Are Sentence Fragments? (And How to Fix Them)

Sentence fragments are incomplete sentences – and in most forms of writing, they’re considered incorrect. But in the right context, they can be a powerful stylistic choice. So, when should you avoid them, and when can you bend the rules?

In this post, we’ll explore:

• What a sentence fragment is
• How to identify a sentence fragment
• How to fix a sentence fragment
• Examples of sentence fragments in action
• When it’s okay to use sentence fragments

Let’s take a closer look.

What Is a Sentence Fragment?

A sentence fragment is a group of words that doesn’t express a complete thought. It’s missing part of what’s required for grammatical completeness – typically a subject, a verb, or an object. As a result, it can’t stand alone.

All full sentences must contain at least one main (or independent) clause. Minimally, this includes a subject (someone or something performing an action) and a verb (an action or state of being). Some verbs also require an object (something that receives the action of the verb). If any of these elements are missing, the sentence will be incomplete.

How to Identify a Sentence Fragment

Even with a definition in mind, sentence fragments can still be tricky to spot. Reading the text aloud can help; if something sounds unfinished or confusing, it may be a fragment.

Here are four simple questions you can ask to help you identify a sentence fragment:

1. Does It Have a Subject?

A sentence needs someone or something to perform the action. For example:

Forgot to send the invoice.

Who forgot? This sentence has a verb, but we don’t know who performed the action (who forgot). In formal writing, this would need a subject to be complete.

2. Does It Have a Verb?

Without a verb, there’s no action or state of being. For instance:

The manager of the new team.

What about the manager? We have a subject phrase here but no action – so it just hangs there without finishing the thought.

3. Does It Have an Object?

Some verbs require an object to complete the meaning of the sentence. Without one, the thought feels unfinished.

She handed the documents to.

She handed them to whom? To make sense, the verb handed needs an object. Without it, the sentence leaves the reader waiting for more information.

4. Does It Express a Complete Thought?

Even if a sentence contains both a subject and a verb, it might still be a fragment if the idea isn’t complete. This is especially true if it starts with a subordinating word such as although, because, or when.

Although he stayed late.

What happened even though he stayed late? This is a dependent clause. On its own, it doesn’t express a full idea, so it needs to be connected to a main clause to be grammatically complete.

How to Fix a Sentence Fragment

Once you’ve spotted a sentence fragment, fixing it is usually straightforward. The key is to make sure every sentence expresses a complete thought, with all the necessary components.

Here are three simple ways to fix a sentence fragment:

1. Add the Missing Part

Sometimes a fragment is simply missing a subject, a verb, or an object. In these cases, you can fix the sentence by simply supplying the missing information.

Was waiting by the door. ✘

He was waiting by the door. ✔

This fragment includes a verb phrase (was waiting) but doesn’t tell us who was doing the waiting. With the addition of a subject, He, the sentence now communicates a full idea.

An excellent solution to the problem. ✘

This is an excellent solution to the problem. ✔

In this case, we’re missing a subject and a verb. The phrase describes something, but it doesn’t actually say anything is happening. Adding This is turns it into a complete sentence by pinpointing what is being described (This) and providing a verb to connect the pieces (is).

2. Attach It to a Nearby Sentence

Sometimes a fragment is actually a dependent clause (something that needs to be paired with a main clause to make sense). If so, you can often attach it to the sentence that comes before or after it.

Although the meeting ran late. We finished everything on the agenda. ✘

Although the meeting ran late, we finished everything on the agenda. ✔

The word although creates a relationship, but on its own, it leaves the reader hanging. What happened despite or because of the meeting’s late finish? By attaching the clause to a related main sentence, we provide the full picture.

Having forgotten her umbrella again. ✘

She was late, having forgotten her umbrella again. ✔

This fragment makes more sense when combined with a clause that gives it context. Think of it as part of the sentence that got left behind during editing.

3. Rephrase the Sentence Completely

In some cases, rewriting the fragment as a full sentence is better than simply adding what’s missing. This is especially true when the fragment is awkward or unclear.

An exciting opportunity for. ✘

The company offered an exciting opportunity for recent graduates. ✔

Here, we’re not just missing a word – we need to reshape the sentence to clarify who or what the opportunity is for. A full rephrase gives the reader everything they need.

More difficult than expected. ✘

The task was more difficult than he had expected. ✔

This is a classic example of a comparative phrase that needs context. What was more difficult? And what was it more difficult than? Rephrasing completes the thought.

Sentence Fragment Examples

Here are some more examples of sentence fragments and how to fix them by adding the missing element in each case:

When Is It Okay to Use Sentence Fragments?

In formal writing, sentence fragments are usually seen as errors. But in some situations, using a fragment can actually enhance your writing. The key is knowing when it’s intentional and effective.

Here are three common scenarios where sentence fragments work well:

1. To Mimic Natural Speech in Dialogue

People rarely speak in perfect sentences. If you’re writing dialogue, scripts, or blog quotes, fragments can help your characters sound realistic. Take this exchange: 

“Coffee?”
“‘Yes, please. Black.”
“Busy morning?”
“You have no idea.”

Fully grammatical dialogue would sound unnatural here. This version – with sentence fragments – reflects how people actually speak.

2. For Emphasis in Creative Writing

Fragments can create suspense, urgency, or rhythm. They’re especially useful in fiction or narrative nonfiction. For example:

Silence. A knock. Then a scream.

Short, choppy fragments break up the flow and draw attention to key moments.

That said, it is possible to overuse this technique. If a text is beginning to look like a stream-of-consciousness shopping list, it’s worth addressing.

3. To Add Tone and Variety in Informal Writing

In blog posts, marketing copy, and social media content, fragments can help create a conversational tone.

Tempted? You should be.

The result? A better user experience.

No fluff. Just results.

These fragments add punch and personality – but use them sparingly to avoid making your writing feel disjointed.

Perfect Your Grammar Skills

Understanding sentence fragments, including how to fix them and when to leave them for stylistic effect, is valuable for any proofreader, editor, or writer. Once you understand the rules, you’ll be able to improve clarity, flow, and tone across a wide range of texts. And you’ll know when it’s ok to bend the rules a little!

Our Becoming A Proofreader course includes an entire module on common grammar errors, covering sentence fragments, restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses, agreement, parallelism, and much more. 

If you’re ready to sharpen your proofreading and editing skills, our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses offer everything you need. And if you buy them as a bundle, you’ll save 15%.

To get a head start as a professional editor, pass both courses with distinction, and you’ll qualify for guaranteed freelance work with our partner company, Proofed.

Try two free lessons today to get started!

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