How do you feel about fragments?

[Joss-Box]

Before you answer with and angry "no," let me explain. I hate fragments too. But in the case of creativity, do you think it would be OK? What I mean is, if a writer is going for an effect, is it OK to let those fragments slide. If you think it is OK, when is it TOO much?  

[The Man who was Thursday]

Fragments? Fine.  

[Astral Sun]

Anything is fine when used for effect, but the effect must work.  

[Mother Superior]

I actually don't mind fragments if:
1. It's for effect.
2. It's something being said.

But my spell-checker is retarded. It says anything under twelve words is a fragment. xp  

[God of lunchboxes]

I write as I speak. I often speak in fragments, because I won't present a speech over a "yes" or "no" question as I am often expected to do in class. (I hate my teachers.)  

[Aevy]

I love fragments, but only so long as they're used to emphasize something, and not just a result of the writer's laziness.  

[Angel80272]

I use fragments occasionally for effect, but anything more than two or three in one paragraph is usually too much. Really. It is.  

[MyOwnBestCritic]

I think they're fine as long as they aren't too common. Using a purposeful fragment every three sentences takes away from the impact. However, in an essay using more a more formulaic rubric, I wouldn't try to get away with it.  

[Pippinpaddleoppsokopolis]

I've used them in poetry but otherwise, I don't really like them...  

[Ame Yuki Kaze]

Are these fragments you speak of something along the line of this?

Quote:

Purdue offers many majors in engineering. Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

Fix
Purdue offers many majors in engineering, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering.

 

[Xx_Murderous Doll_xX]

Joss-Box

Before you answer with and angry "no," let me explain. I hate fragments too. But in the case of creativity, do you think it would be OK? What I mean is, if a writer is going for an effect, is it OK to let those fragments slide. If you think it is OK, when is it TOO much?

I tend to use fragments a lot during conversations via messengers and such. In cordial, formal writing, however, no matter how much of a dramatic effect the writer's going for, I can't stand fragments. They jump out at my eyes and I want to strangle whichever editor overlooked it. Then again, I tend to be a bit Grammar-O.C.D. sometimes...  

[Dreaming in the Theatre]

I read somewhere that, "Go!" is actually the shortest complete sentence in the world. This implies that simply saying "yes," or "no" is a fragment, so we all speak in fragments quite often.

As for writing, fragments are quite useful, but I usually find it more useful, writing-wise, in speech. Though, I do use it to stress earlier statements, but never really alone...Does that make sense?

My problem tends to be run-on sentences... sweatdrop

 

[Amphion]

It really depends on the context. In formal, academic research papers, it's best to avoid them. Whenever dialogue is involved, fragments are bound to start springing up, unless you want your characters to sound stiff and lifeless. Sometimes, in a narration, they can be used for good dramatic effect, but, as with anything, they can be overused, at which point they become insipid and annoying.

(Poetry is to far removed from prose in most cases for the idea of a sentence to apply.)  

[Khale Demos]

Shedra Helix

I write as I speak. I often speak in fragments, because I won't present a speech over a "yes" or "no" question as I am often expected to do in class. (I hate my teachers.)

I never understood how you were supposed to do that, but I think I finally found out.