What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
fragment
Example
The vase shattered into fragments on the floor. [fragment: noun]
Example
She could only remember fragments of the conversation. [fragment: noun]
Example
The writer struggled with fragment sentences in their essay. [fragment: adjective]
shard
Example
The car windshield was shattered into shards by the hailstorm. [shard: noun]
Example
He cut his finger on a shard of glass from the broken bottle. [shard: noun]
Example
The archaeologist found a shard of pottery from an ancient civilization. [shard: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fragment is a more common word than shard, and is used in a wider variety of contexts. Shard is more specific and is typically used in reference to physical objects.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between fragment and shard?
Both fragment and shard are relatively neutral in terms of formality, and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
