Sentence Fragment
Fragments are diagnosed by grammatical completeness, not simply by length. A dependent clause, phrase, or otherwise incomplete structure can look sentence-like because it starts with a capital and ends with punctuation; the repair depends on what is missing.
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence—often a dependent clause or a phrase presented as if it were complete. Fix it by supplying the missing independent-clause structure or by attaching it to a nearby sentence when the meaning supports that repair.
Key details
Important caveats
Boundary
Formal prose usually repairs accidental fragments, but deliberate fragments can be legitimate stylistic choices in dialogue, advertising, notes, or literary prose.
Further guidance
Diagnostic
Ask whether the words can stand as an independent clause with a complete predication in the intended context.
If a subordinating word makes the clause dependent, identify the main clause it belongs with.
Repair Options
Join the fragment to the sentence it modifies, remove unnecessary subordination when appropriate, or supply the missing subject/verb/completion.
Worked Example
Fragment: “Because the deadline moved.” Repair: “We revised the schedule because the deadline moved.” The dependent clause now attaches to an independent clause.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Sentence Fragments (opens in a new tab)Purdue Online Writing Lab · Purdue defines fragments as incomplete sentences, often dependent clauses or phrases disconnected from a main clause, and shows multiple repairs based on the fragment type.
- Proofreading for Errors — Subject/Verb Agreement (opens in a new tab)Purdue Online Writing Lab · Authority used to verify the public writing guidance.