How is this a fragment?

Question

Microsoft Word is picking up the following sentence that I have written in a paper and saying it's a fragment. Word has been known to make numerous mistakes in Grammar Check, so how do I know if this is really a fragment or not? I learned in elementary school that a fragment was missing a subject or a verb. This sentence has both doesn't it? How is it a fragment??? The sentence is this...
"Professional writing, whether for an academic course or for business, often requires writers to conduct research."

Answer 1

it's fine, not a fragment. that grammar checker is terrible. turn it off and just use the spellcheck.

i don't like emerald eye's suggestion. it is not clear to what the "it" refers. business? writing?

i do like DD's. that works.

Answer 2

The sentence is technically all right.
But it isn't real.
Professional writing isn't a human being. It can't demand, ask or require anything of anyone.

So I teach that the sentence is not good enough,because it its statement is unreal, since only real nouns can perform the verb of action the sentence says they can; and here th noun being named cannot do so.

You sentencez;
"Professional writing, whether for an academic course or for business, often requires writers to conduct research."

The second phrase needs to match the first:"an academic course, a business purpose".
In English, the reality, the meaning you were seeking to put into words for a reader has to be expressed I assert as follows:
"When any person writes professional level non-fictional prose, whether to fulfill an assignment given in an academic course or a business purpose, he as writer will have to conduct research first before he writes a single sentence.

Answer 3

Whether you use professional writing for an academic course or for business, it often requires writers to conduct research.

I just think that flows better. I don't agree that what you have written is a fragment either, however it does not flow well. Perhaps you can try this instead.

-Em

Answer 4

The way you have it IS grammatically correct, but it can be worded a little less awkwardly.

Try this:
Whether for an academic or business course, professional writing often requires writers to conduct research.

Answer 5

The reason word thinks it is a fragment is because it does not recognize 'Professional writing' as the subject. It is categorizing it as a verb.

Answer 6

It doesn't seem to be a fragment to me. It contains subject,verb and object. T4

Answer 7

Because any MS product grammar check sucks.

Answer 8

its correct.
u put both commas in because i think its called an independent clauswe or soemthing... it means u can take out whats in commas and still have a sentence, but i think m word is seeing it as something else.
its a sentence:
subject: writing
verb:requires

Answer 9

Your sentence is fine; it is Word that is at fault.