Okay, so basically this is a really dumb question. But I have this habit of writing a lot of fragments and I was just wondering if they are grammatically wrong. Can anyone please help me out with this?
OK, I'm no grammatician, but here's my take. Technically, yes, fragments are grammatically incorrect. Every sentence needs a verb and noun and all that jazz. However, we are allowed to break the rules. Lucky us. Fragments can cause a powerful effect, but they aren't to be overused.
This was from an article in Writer's Digest, July '04, by David A. Fryxell, entitled Rules Worth Breaking. It lists some grammar rules, and his reasons on why they can be broken.
2. SENTENCE FRAGMENTS ARE FORBIDDEN.
In other words, every sentence must have a noun and a verb to deserve the period at the end. While that remains a good guideline to follow, know what you're doing when you employ fragments, and do so sparingly. Occasionally, you can indulge for emphasis or effect. Sentence fragments change the rhythm of your writing. They underscore the thought you've encased in this brief, verbless chunk.
Here, for example, is Linda Robertson writing about tennis star Venus Williams in The Miami Herald's Tropic magazine:
While her would-be opponents perform before cheering crowds, she hears cows mooing on the neighbors' property. Pastoral, peaceful, normal. Just the way her father likes it.
That's a powerful, staccato backhand compared to this lifeless but grammatically correct version:
While her would be opponents perform before cheering crowds, she hears cows mooing on the neighbors' property. It is pastoral, peaceful and normal. This is just the way her father likes it.
Or cnsider how Penny Wolfson beaks this rule in an award-winning Atlantic Monthly piece, "Moonrise," that begins by describing the Ansel Adams photograph of that title:
Human life is small, fragile and finate. And yet, still, beautiful.
Fragments tend to make the piece read faster. For example, how many of you have encountered this huge block of text and have been turned off by it? Same concept. Because it's in a shorter space, it automatically makes the readers' eyes go ahead... great for battle scenes. Great for emotional turmoil. Not so good for essays.
So be careful how you use it...
Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.
"The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly." ~ Richard Bach
i used frgaments quite alot. alot of revision and practice is a good way to avoid them. you'll learn eventually that it is easy to over come these fragments.
Grammatically wrong. They can be used creatively to great effect. Just make sure that the short, choppy fragments go witht eh overall style of what you are writing. If you are writing with informal voice, they are fine. If you want to make something short and jarring, great. If you are writing something very formal or writing about a very proper traditional character, they don't work so well. I use them a lot, perhaps too much. I don't know. I like them.
And remember, if you are going to use them, please you them carefully. Just by adding a period, it adds a dramatic pause. Very useful, but it can be overdone. When you do read your fragmented work, make sure it makes sense. ><
Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.
"The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly." ~ Richard Bach
What was said above is true. Another thing is that, even in moderation, you must be careful that the fragment does not sound "chopped off". That and please PLEASE don't use numerous in a row.
So yes, they're fine. I guess they're technically incorrect, but no one bothers with rules these days. They can be really effective if used in the right places, but it's not alwasy easy working out the right places. For that I say got with your gut feelings, because if it doesn't sound so great on rereading you can always change it to a normal sentence.
Oh, you're angry! Click your pen.
--Music and Lyrics
I use fragments, fairly often. Usually only when I want to create a certain feeling, or a certain mood, and especially in dialogue. People don't always talk in complete sentences, and in fact, most of the people I listen to all day long use a LOT of fragments when they're speaking. So the majority of the fragments I use are in dialogue and character thought.
I'm writing something right now, where the character has a lot of nightmares--those scenes have a good number of fragments in them, and probably push limits. But the images in this characters mind are fragmented...so why shouldn't some of the sentences be? Of course, there are complete sentences in between. If I ever wrote a paragraph with all fragments I think my editor would shoot me.
"You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there..."
--Angel
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