Fragment (Consider reversing)

absentnormality · Sep 16, 2009

When I opened my WIP yesterday I never intended to edit, I intended to write. However, once confronted with all those green squiggly lines I decided that some re-reading and attention to my appalling grammar was in order.

The program I usually write with has no grammar check and I was amazed at the amount of green lines Word decided to decorate my pages with. Most of them where joined by the helpful hint of 'Fragment (Consider reversing)'. Now I will readily admit that looking back there were a lot of fragments that didn't need to be fragments and the majority have been edited out but there are some I like (and some where I just can't think of a better alternative).

EDITED CAUSE IT MADE NO SENSE;

Now I have vauge memories of being told that the younger the audience the shorter the sentances but I may have abused even that rule with some of what I've written. What's you opinion on fragments? Should I leave them for the betas to rip apart or try to fix them now even if I like them? Part of me wonders if it matters as long as the writing flows, but then do fragments not stop flow? To be honest, I never notice things like fragments and run-ons when reading so can't really tell whats normal. Maybe I should just take out all punctuation and let someone else put it back in for me.

And why on earth does Word want me to reverse these fragments, it doesn't help, Word still refuses to put up with it no matter how I re-locate the words.

Mumut · Sep 16, 2009

First, I'd suggest you say 'number of green lines' instead of 'amount of green lines'. The way you have it should have a green line under it.

But back to the subject. (That's a fragment). I find my dialogue is often fragmentary. I find this is how people actually speak. I prefer to be true to life in this matter. My editor allows this. So I'd suggest you read it out loud and see whether it sounds natural. If so, I'd say keep it in your work.

absentnormality · Sep 16, 2009

Mumut said:
First, I'd suggest you say 'number of green lines' instead of 'amount of green lines'. The way you have it should have a green line under it.

I've edited that post 6 times already... no more!

Mumut said:
But back to the subject. (That's a fragment). I find my dialogue is often fragmentary. I find this is how people actually speak. I prefer to be true to life in this matter. My editor allows this. So I'd suggest you read it out loud and see whether it sounds natural. If so, I'd say keep it in your work.

Never thought about it like that. Unfortunately, I appear to have less fragments in my dialog than anywhere else.

And I've just realised that here was probably not the place to post this thread. I wonder; if I go back to sleep will today start over?

Sage · Sep 16, 2009

I am a fragment abuser. I think especially in teen writing we use fragments for emphasis. Like this. As long as you're not putting periods in the middle of sentences that really do need a complete thought (like if I put one here), you're probably okay.

BUT if you do it too much, you'll lose that emphasis. Also too many short sentences in a row have their own kind of emphasis, and if there's no reason for it, it can grate on a reader's nerves.

Fran · Sep 16, 2009

Personally, I don't think Word knows half as much as it thinks it does.

People don't speak or even think grammatically all the time. Does it make sense? Is the point being made clear and easily expressed in a 'fragment'? If it's a case of revising a few, that's fine, but if there are some you like and you feel they suit the story you're telling, then the 'Ignore Rule' button is your friend. Trust your instincts. They'll get you a lot further than a rigid grammar program that doesn't appear to be designed to take the actual use of English into account.

Sage · Sep 16, 2009

I usually just keep the grammar check on to call me on it when I forget a question mark. I do that a lot.

absentnormality · Sep 16, 2009

I think I prefer my own word possessor, without it's grammar check.

I guess I'll edit what I think needs editing and let the betas tear apart the rest rather than worrying about wither every fragment is needed.

Rachel · Sep 16, 2009

Fragment - consider revising/reversing.

This is Word's way of saying:

Your work is brilliant and I'm so jealous I need to pick on you.

I'm sure of it.

Now I approach the topic seriously:

1) It is also known as the most useless grammar error in Word.
2) It will pop up if there is some simple mistake like a missed comma, or if you misspelled one of the "important" words in the sentence (the noun/subject or the verb).
3) It pops up if the sentence is too long and "confusing".
4) It does, of course, mean it is an incomplete sentence. For the sake of fiction I often leave incomplete sentences in my stories however; particularly YA stories.

Altogether it is something fixed in editing anyway, in my opinion, and doesn't really reflect grammar as much as Word's nit-pickiness.

Kitty Pryde · Sep 16, 2009

Don't trust Word! It's preset with rules for business writing, not novel writing. For instance, my Word wants to change:

"Why?" she asked. to "Why?" She asked.

Which is wrong. (I think you can change the settings so it won't do this, but my point is that it wants to.) It also hates it when you end dialogue with any kind of dash, like "But you said-"

And also, yay for sentence fragments!

chocowrites · Sep 16, 2009

I love sentence fragments!

It might just be that having lots of fragments in your writing is part of your voice. Which is fine fine fine

We speak in fragments anyways, and think in them too. Don't make Word's green lines make you nervous. If it's part of your writing style, just leave them in.

Tuuli · Sep 16, 2009

And sometimes Word will tell you it's a fragment when clearly it isn't.

absentnormality · Sep 17, 2009

*feels loved*

Thanks everyone. I shall ignore word and just write what I think should be written.

Fragment (Consider reversing)

absentnormality

Queen of sensible stupidity

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

absentnormality

Queen of sensible stupidity

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Fran

Slate grey mole person

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

absentnormality

Queen of sensible stupidity

Rachel

Stuff and nonsense.

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

chocowrites

scaredy cat

Tuuli

Research Addict

absentnormality

Queen of sensible stupidity