were 10, 9 ¾?, and 6.”
Standard English requires a
hyphen in any spelled-out fraction that is used as an
adjective to modify a
noun: A two-thirds majority voted for the bill.”
Fragments. Incomplete sentences of any kind are called fragments Generally they should be avoided except on the rare occasions when they can serve as a
rhetorical or emphatic device This company needs energy. Drive. Imagination (see
emphasis).Fragments are not always short bits of sentences. In fact, the most common error with fragments occurs when long
phrases are linked together but a main
subject, verb,or
object is omitted In industrial democracies of the sort that have risen over years and through thee orts of imaginative entrepreneurs—the sorts of people who work endless hours and inspire and infuriate others by demanding that they do the same.”
This
example is full of subjects, verbs,
and objects, as well as several complete
clauses. But there is no main clause with a subject, verb,
or object therefore, this long string of words is nothing more than that a fragment.
Check all sentences to make sure they are complete even if they are long or complex collections of words. Use length and complexity of a group of words as a reminder that fragments often hide behind long phrases and clauses. Other clues include
colons, dashes, and
parentheses, which often are interjected into sentences before a subject has linked up with its verb or object. And since the phrases or clauses contained within the
punctuation often do have subjects, verbs, and objects,
the careless or distracted writer will sometimes lose sight of the fact that the main subject, verb, object connection has been left unmade. Another similar warning sign is along introductory prepositional, adverbial,
or dependent clause, which can also contain subjects, verbs, and objects galore and never lead to a full sentence. The example in the previous paragraph is of this type. See
clause, prepositional phrase,and
interjection.Share with your friends: 
