fragment vs.fraction

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

I always confuse between these two words - Fragment vs. fraction.

What’s the difference?

Thanks.

2

The basic meaning of “fragment” is a small detached piece of something. For example, you can talk about “a fragment of bone” or “fragment of cloth”, but not “fraction of bone” or “fraction of cloth”. “fragment” can be extended figuratively to non-physical things, but still retains connotations of “small detached piece”.

“fraction” can apply to continuous things or abstract things in cases where there is no actual (or figurative) detached piece of anything. For example, you can say “CO2 is a small fraction of the atmosphere”, but not “a small fragment of the atmosphere”. In cases where both words are possible, “fragment” emphasises the “broken-off-ness” or “detached-ness” (e.g. “a fragment of the population” versus “a fraction of the population”).

3

Thanks!