

These last three examples of fragments with no subjects are also known as mixed constructions, that is, sentences constructed out of mixed parts. Rearrange: Phil got fired for doing freelance work for a competitor.Remove preposition: Doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil fired.Fragment: For doing freelance work for a competitor got Phil fired.Remove preposition: Paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.Fragment: By paying too much attention to polls can make a political leader unwilling to propose innovative policies.Remove preposition: The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.Fragment: With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.Main verb: A record of accomplishment began when you were first hired.Direct object: I've noticed a record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired.Fragment: A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first hired.


Possible Revision: Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game, leaving her team at a time when we needed her. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her. Fragment: Coach Dietz exemplified this behavior by walking off the field in the middle of a game.Possible Revision: Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Fragment: Purdue offers many majors in engineering.

Notice that the fragment is frequently a dependent clause or long phrase that follows the main clause. Punctuation and/or words added to make corrections are highlighted in blue. Other kinds of punctuation may be needed for the newly combined sentence.īelow are some examples with the fragments shown in red. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. This handout provides an overview and examples of sentence fragments.įragments are incomplete sentences. Writing Letters of Recommendation for Students.
