Fragmented lists

When a list is mistakenly fragmented, it can often be attached to a nearby sentence with a colon or a dash.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: It has been said that there are only three indigenous American art forms. Musical comedy, jazz, and soap opera. Revised sentence: It has been said that there are only three indigenous American art forms: musical comedy, jazz, and soap opera.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: Symphony orchestras in mid-size cities are experiencing several problems. Declining attendance, budget deficits, and competition from other forms of entertainment. Revised sentence: Symphony orchestras in mid-size cities are experiencing several problems: declining attendance, budget deficits, and competition from other forms of entertainment.

Sometimes terms like especially, namely, like, and such as introduce fragmented lists. Such fragments can usually be attached to the preceding sentence.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: In the twentieth century, the South produced some great American writers. Such as Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Alice Walker, Tennessee Williams, and Thomas Wolfe. Revised sentence: In the twentieth century, the South produced some great American writers, such as Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Alice Walker, Tennessee Williams, and Thomas Wolfe.

Test for fragments

Exercise: Sentence fragments 1

Exercise: Sentence fragments 2

Exercise: Sentence fragments 3

Exercise: Sentence fragments 4

Exercise: Sentence fragments 5

Related topics:

Colons introducing lists

Lists

colon A mark of punctuation that introduces or points toward some concluding element such as a list. Colons also have conventional uses, as in expressions of time.

dash A punctuation mark (— or --) that sets off an element in a sentence.