Editing Tips: When Are Sentence Fragments Okay?

Strictly speaking, sentence fragments – incomplete sentences that don’t express a complete thought – are ungrammatical. And, as a proofreader, you would usually correct ungrammatical text in a document. But is a sentence fragment always an error?

The short answer is “no.” Many writers use sentence fragments deliberately, especially in creative writing and commercial copy. In this post, then, we will outline:

• A few ways in which writers use sentence fragments for effect.
• When and how to correct fragments as a proofreader.

For more on how to handle sentence fragments as a proofreader, check out our advice below.

When Are Sentence Fragments Okay?

Certain types of writing bend grammar rules for effect. This is most common in fiction and other kinds of creative writing, but it also applies to copy writing and journalism.

Some common uses of sentence fragments, for instance, include:

• Varying the pace and flow of prose, creating anticipation or tension.
• Mimicking human speech, especially in dialogue.
• Making short, sharp emphatic statements.
• Giving an immediate answer to a rhetorical question.

You can see examples of these below:

The bullets flew past his head, making his ears ring. Then, nothing.

Sheila asked him where he was going. “Home. To bed. Tired,” grunted Fred.

Efficiency. Excellence. Perfect timing. These three values define our company.

Why do we persist in writing grammatically? Because we care.

These kinds of sentence fragments are fine as long as they make sense in context. In fact, as long as the document type permits non-standard English, they can help authors achieve their goals, whether this is creating a compelling narrative or selling a product.

When Does a Sentence Fragment Need Correcting?

Fragments are technically ungrammatical, but they are also a common part of everyday speech and writing. As such, they may not always need correcting.

However, there are two main situations in which you may need to correct them:

1. In formal writing (e.g., academic essays or business reports), which should typically follow standard English grammar and use complete sentences.
2. If sentence fragments seem accidental or make the writing less clear.

There will be some exceptions – e.g., an academic book may include stylistic flourishes on the part of the author, or a work of fiction may use sentence fragments that are deliberately obscure and confusing to unsettle the reader – but these are rare.

When clarity or formality are at issue, then, fragments are usually problematic.

How to Correct Sentence Fragments

If you do spot a fragment that seems incorrect or inappropriate, you have two choices. One is to make an educated guess based on the context and complete the sentence. For instance, imagine a writer describing someone getting into a car as follows:

He turned the and the engine roared to life.

We can reasonably assume here that the missing word is “key.” As such, if we were proofreading this sentence, we would add “key” and leave a comment to note the addition.

Alternatively, it may be unclear whether the fragment is deliberate. Or you might not be sure how to complete the sentence based on the surrounding text. And in these cases, you will just want to leave a comment noting the sentence fragment for the client.

Become a Grammar Expert

If you want to find out more about sentence fragments, and how to look out for other grammatical errors in writing, our Becoming A Proofreader course has all the information you need! Sign up for the free trial today to find out how the course works.