Incomplete thought
Sentences may include a subject and a verb, but they can still be incomplete. These kind of fragments can sound natural because we use them all the time in natural conversation. When we write, especially academically, they are considered sentence fragments. Go through the following list of common incomplete sentence types to improve your editing skills.
1) No main clause
a) Starting with a subordinator
Many sentence fragments start with a subordinator, but lack an independent clause. Subordinate clauses (or dependent clauses) can't stand alone, which make them incomplete thoughts.
Your sentence may be a fragment if it begins with one of the following subordinators:
Note: See the connectors guide for more information.
before |
because |
who / whose |
after |
since (reason) |
what / whatever |
since (time) |
if / even if |
when / whenever |
until |
that / so that |
where / wherever |
ever before |
in order |
which / whichever |
as / as if / just as |
although / though / even though |
whether |
how |
unless |
wheras |
Examples:
The bold phrases are the sentence fragments.
- While I was sleeping. The phone rang.
- Before I went to school. I checked the weather report.
- Although I didn't study for the test. I still passed.
Here are some possible ways to complete these thoughts:
- While I was sleeping, the phone rang.
- Before I went to school, I checked the weather report.
- Although I didn't study for the test, I still passed.
b) Extra detail or afterthoughts
Because many people write how they speak, this is a very common sentence fragment. When there is no main clause, the group of words is considered a fragment.
Your sentence may be a fragment if it begins with one of the following words/phrases:
especially |
except |
also |
excluding |
for example |
for instance |
including |
like |
such as |
Examples:
- I didn't tell anyone about the accident. Including my best friend.
- I did many things on my vacation. For example, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
- We were all very tired. Especially my brother.
Here are some possible ways to correct the fragments above:
- I didn't tell anyone about the accident, including my best friend.
- I did many things on my vacation, for example, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
- We were all very tired, especially my brother.
2) Phrase that is not modifying anything
a) Phrase starting with a coordinate conjunction
Sentence fragments starting with a coordinate conjunction (FANBOYS - for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) are probably the most common. Students often get confused about whether they are allowed or not in academic writing because they appear so often in books and other written material. If you are writing formally, or you are an inexperienced writer, it is better to avoid making this kind of fragment. (See to the connectors tab for more information.)
Examples:
- She came to my wedding. But she was wearing jeans!
- I was not happy. Nor was my husband-to-be.
- I was tired. So I went to bed early.
The above phrases can be combined to make sentences:
- She came to my wedding, but she was wearing jeans!
- I was not happy, nor was my husband-to-be.
- I was tired, so I went to bed.
b) Starting with a participial phrase
What is a participle? A participle is a word formed from a verb. There are past participles and present participles. Present participles end in "ing". Regular past participles end in "ed". Irregular past participles can end in "n", "t", or "d". A participial phrase is a group of words that starts with a participle. Although participles look like verbs, they behave as adjectives when they are in a phrase.
Examples:
- I was at the mall all day. Looking for a new bag.
- I drove down the highway. Covered in snow.
- I saw her. Burst into tears.
- I helped a dog. Bitten by a coyote.
The above phrases can be combined to make sentences:
- I was at the mall all day looking for a new bag.
- I drove down the highway covered in snow.
- I saw her burst into tears.
- I helped a dog bitten by a coyote.
c) Starting with a "to" verb
An infinitive phrase starts with the infinitive form of the verb ("to"). When a group of words start with "to", it sometimes becomes a fragment. Infinitive phrases look like verbs, but they behave as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. For sentence fragments, infinitive phrases are usually adverbs that are not describing anything. They need a subject and verb to form a complete sentence.
Examples:
- I called my friend. To ask her if she wants to go shopping.
- I tried really hard. To finish my project on time.
- My boss sent out an email. To announce his retirement.
The above phrases can be combined to make sentences:
- I called my friend to ask her if she wants to go shopping.
- I tried really hard to finish my project on time.
- My boss sent out an email to announce his retirement.