Sentence fragment

Seaclusion · May 8, 2008

I am writing a fast paced mystery using short choppy sentences. After re-reading the first draft, I have noticed that some (Just a couple actually) of the choppy sentences are actually sentence fragments. The problem is they work. Most of the people I've had read the draft skip right past them without even noticing that they are fragments. Is it sometimes ok to use sentence fragments? Or is it a hard and fast rule?

Richard

Maryn · May 8, 2008

Absolutely okay in popular fiction. Frag away!

Maryn, fragment lover

Toothpaste · May 8, 2008

If it isn't okay I am in serious trouble! In fiction sentence fragments are not only okay, they can also improve upon the narrative.

ishtar'sgate · May 8, 2008

Seaclusion said:
Is it sometimes ok to use sentence fragments?
Richard

It must be. I see them all the time in published works.
Linnea

maggieuc · May 8, 2008

Seaclusion said:
I am writing a fast paced mystery using short choppy sentences. After re-reading the first draft, I have noticed that some (Just a couple actually) of the choppy sentences are actually sentence fragments. The problem is they work. Most of the people I've had read the draft skip right past them without even noticing that they are fragments. Is it sometimes ok to use sentence fragments? Or is it a hard and fast rule?

Richard

It's perfectly acceptable!!!

Starwise · May 8, 2008

To me, sentence fragments are like chocolate chip cookies. They're so easy to eat up, they taste great, they look good, but an overabundance of them can kinda get you sick

eveningstar · May 8, 2008

Starwise said:
To me, sentence fragments are like chocolate chip cookies. They're so easy to eat up, they taste great, they look good, but an overabundance of them can kinda get you sick

This is truth. And makes me want cookies. Mmm... cookies.

kct webber · May 8, 2008

Frag away, my friend. They can be very useful.

Matera the Mad · May 8, 2008

Yep. No prob--as long as they serve a purpose and are not just a bad habit. Fragments are like a special hammer stroke, most effective if not used for steady pounding. I've noticed that it is a common unconscious habit for some people to tack a frag on the end of a paragraph too often. If there is a pattern, break the pattern, not the sentence. Rules are made to be broken, but so are habits.

Quentin Nokov · May 8, 2008

As long as it makes sense why not?

maestrowork · May 8, 2008

Seaclusion said:
I am writing a fast paced mystery using short choppy sentences. After re-reading the first draft, I have noticed that some (Just a couple actually) of the choppy sentences are actually sentence fragments. The problem is they work. Most of the people I've had read the draft skip right past them without even noticing that they are fragments. Is it sometimes ok to use sentence fragments? Or is it a hard and fast rule?

Richard

If they work, what's the problem?

Who says you can't write sentence fragments? I do that. All the time.

Seaclusion · May 9, 2008

Somehow, I get the feeling everyone thinks. Sentence fragments are alright.

Richard

jst5150 · May 9, 2008

Sentence fragments are alright.

Press on!

Seaclusion · May 9, 2008

I'm pressing. On to end.

Richard

terry · May 13, 2008

Sentence fragments are all right. Sometimes.

But if you're feeling bad about them, or you're too conflicted, go ahead and take them out and see if you can't do something as good or better. When in doubt, trust standard English. Besides, the additional time spent on a paragraph can often make it a little better, provided you don't lose any authenticity from the original tone.

Sadie7th · May 18, 2008

If you know that you're writing a fragment and you mean to, then I think that they are okay-if you don't use too many of them.

I try to teach my 7th grade students not to use them at all. I do this because they are low level students and don't know the difference between a sentence and a sentence fragment most of the time. We drill subject and predicate!!!

Staroffurby · May 18, 2008

fragments need to be used sparingly, they can help with a fast paced story. Too many and they become a pain. Its about careful usage and what helps or stops the story from flowing.

benbradley · May 18, 2008

Be careful. Too many fragments could actually affect things. Even slow things down. You would need to do something about it. Such as defrag your manuscript.

Sentence fragment

Seaclusion

Absolute Parsley

Maryn

At Sea

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

ishtar'sgate

living in the past

maggieuc

Starwise

Debut Urban Fantasy Author

eveningstar

circus girl without a safety net

kct webber

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Quentin Nokov

King of the Kitties

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Seaclusion

Absolute Parsley

jst5150

Vorpal Comics. Weekly Podcast. Twitch Artist. Vet

Seaclusion

Absolute Parsley

terry

Sadie7th

Staroffurby

i'm impossible to describe

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world