A fragment resembles a sentence in two ways. Both groups of words begin with a capital letter and conclude with an end mark—usually a period [.] but sometimes a question mark [?] or an exclamation point [!].The one important difference is that a fragment does not contain a main clause. Like an engine, the main clause powers a complete sentence, propelling the reader through the development of an idea. A fragment, missing this essential component, stalls on the page. When you analyze a group of words looking for the main clause, you have to find three things: a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. If one of these three items is missing, a fragment results.
verbs
🔤 Grammar Tip: Cut, Cut, Cut!
Omit Needless Words
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Are You “Anxious?”
Anxious: Full of mental distress because of apprehension of danger or misfortune [in effect, seeking to avoid] (We were anxious about the nearby gunshots.) vs. Eager or looking forward to (Until you returned, I was anxious to see you).
🔤 Grammar Tip: Discuss What?
The Long Way Is Around
Around. Don’t have a discussion around an issue; have a discussion about an issue.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Active or Passive Voice?
Verbs in the active voice show the subject acting. Verbs in the passive voice show something else acting on the subject. Most writers consider the active voice more forceful and tend to stay away from passives unless they really need them.
ACTIVE: Tim killed the chicken hawk.
PASSIVE: The chicken hawk was killed by Tim.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Ever Misplace a Modifier?
A misplaced modifier is simply a word or phrase describing something but not placed near enough the word it is supposed to modify. The modifying word or phrase is not dangling; no extra words are needed; the modifier is just in the wrong place.
Incorrect: I had to take down the shutters painting the house yesterday.It sounds like the shutters painted the house! Place the modifying phrase painting the house near or next to the word it is meant to modify.
Correct: Painting the house yesterday, I had to take down the shutters.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Are Our Ideas 180 or 360 Degrees Opposed?
When you turn 360 degrees you’ve completed a circle and are back where you started. So if you want to describe a position that’s diametrically opposed to another, the expression you want is not “360 degrees away” but “180 degrees away.”
🔤 Grammar Tip: Shall I?
When is it appropriate to use the word “shall?”
The word shall is used to make offers and suggestions and to ask for advice.
🔤 Grammar Tip: Thinking About a Dash?
Dashes, when used sparingly and correctly, can be used to make your writing sound more sophisticated. Dashes indicate sudden changes in tone or thought within a sentence. They are used to emphasize the contradiction between ideas, for example:
I am under the impression that she has no instructions at all–and doesn’t need any.*
The exuberant–I should say lunatic–quality of his ravings electrified the crowd. *
Grammar Tip: Find the Right Word
Make sure your verbs are strong—avoiding overuse of what I call the Terrible Twenty, (was, had, did, saw etc.—everybody has their own Terrible Twenty) the one size fits all verbs that are used again and again… Like a one-size fits all t shirt, it looks good on nobody. Try to be as specific as you can, take the time to find the absolutely right word.
