fragmentary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fragmentary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is incomplete or consists of fragments, often in contexts related to literature, history, or data. Example: "The archaeologists discovered fragmentary remains of an ancient civilization, which provided only a partial understanding of their culture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Under the nom de guerre of Actress, Cunningham makes what seems, on the surface, to be fragmentary, abrasive techno music.

The Guardian - Music

Looking up into the shafts, we see another world, fragmentary views of light wells and corners, doorways and shuttered windows, air-conditioning units and alleys.

The Guardian - Arts

Perhaps because it's fragmentary, a fever dream of super-saturation cut with voice over from Godard's dog.

The Guardian - Film

If you walk among them, you begin to hear – above the batter of waves on rock – a fragmentary soundscape of poems about love, snatches of Sappho, Sophocles and Shakespeare.

The Guardian - Arts

Often his poetry suggests a voyage through clouded seas, with fragmentary glimpses emerging through the gloom.

The Economist

But this fragmentary situation will inevitably change once the quotas are abolished.

The Economist

But early reactions from more sceptical specialists in late-15th-century art have been lukewarm or hostile: to its critics, the campaign to restore this popular emblem and Renaissance masterwork was over-expensive, over-intrusive and ill thought-out from the start.The trouble starts with the fragmentary character of the painting itself.

The Economist

The new material is fragmentary and episodic and even collectively is not enough to present a comprehensive picture of the Soviet effort and the Anglo-American defences.

The Economist

Parts of America's existing dumb and fragmentary electricity grid are so vulnerable to load variations that their owners think they may be able to cope with no more than about 2% of intermittent wind power.

The Economist

And within five years, in 1930, everyone on the island would have decided that life on St Kilda, 110 miles out in the Atlantic off the Scottish coast, was too hard for them.The St Kilda memories of Norman John Gillies, the baby, were as fragmentary as those of any small child.

The Economist

If we want to focus on the safety of the family today, we have to acknowledge that we need to stop the fragmentary and ineffective measures that have been undertaken for so many years – I know it well and that is why I am going to present relevant proposals in a moment.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts like memories or data, use "fragmentary" to convey that only parts are accessible or known. This adds nuance, suggesting something is missing or incomplete.

Common error

Avoid using "fragmentary" excessively in highly formal writing where simpler alternatives like "incomplete" or "partial" might be more appropriate and direct.

Linguistic Context

The word "fragmentary" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is composed of fragments, incomplete, or disconnected. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fragmentary" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that is incomplete, consisting of fragments, or disconnected. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically sound and widely accepted. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal contexts, conveying a sense of incompleteness or a lack of cohesion. While suitable for many situations, consider more direct alternatives like "incomplete" or "partial" in highly formal writing. Understanding its nuances can enhance the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fragmented

Similar to "fragmentary" but can also refer to a process of breaking into fragments.

incomplete

Focuses on the lack of wholeness or being unfinished.

partial

Emphasizes that only a part is present or considered.

disconnected

Highlights the lack of connection or coherence between parts.

scattered

Suggests that the parts are dispersed or spread out.

disjointed

Implies a lack of smooth connection or flow.

patchy

Indicates unevenness or inconsistency, like patches covering only parts of a whole.

isolated

Emphasizes the separateness of the parts from each other.

piecemeal

Suggests that something is done or obtained in stages or small portions.

sparse

Indicates that something is thinly scattered or not dense.

FAQs

How can I use "fragmentary" in a sentence?

You can use "fragmentary" to describe something consisting of broken or incomplete parts, such as "The archaeologists discovered "fragmentary remains" of an ancient city" or "His memories of the event were "fragmentary and unclear"".

What's the difference between "fragmentary" and "fragmented"?

"Fragmentary" describes something that is already in pieces or incomplete, whereas "fragmented" describes something that has been broken into pieces or is in the process of being broken. So, "fragmentary evidence" is incomplete evidence, while "fragmented data" is data that has been broken up.

What can I say instead of "fragmentary"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "incomplete", "partial", or "disconnected" instead of "fragmentary".

Is it correct to describe information as "fragmentary"?

Yes, describing information as "fragmentary" is correct. It suggests that the information is incomplete, consisting of only bits and pieces, making it difficult to form a complete understanding. For example, "The intelligence was "fragmentary and unreliable"".