MEPX
Chapter 2 of 13All chapters
  1. 1Parts of speech
  2. 2Sentences and fragments
  3. 3Subject and verb agreement
  4. 4Tenses
  5. 5Lie and lay
  6. 6Pronouns
  7. 7Apostrophes
  8. 8Sound alike pairs
  9. 9Fewer and less
  10. 10Plurals
  11. 11Commas
  12. 12Other punctuation
  13. 13Active and passive

Chapter 2 of 13

Sentences and fragments

What has to be there.

The minimum

A sentence needs a subject and a verb and must stand on its own. "The build failed" is a sentence. "Because the build failed" is a fragment waiting for the rest.

  • Words like because, after, although and which usually open a clause that needs a main sentence.
  • Fragments are fine in deliberate style. They read as mistakes when unintended.

Run-ons

Joining two full sentences with only a comma is a comma splice. Use a full stop, a semicolon, or a comma plus a joining word such as and or but.