To achieve particular effects, writers alter their sentence structure. Sentence fragments are utilized to emphasize and generate urgency in this example from O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi." The emphasis here is on Della's limited financial resources. She can afford only one present for her three friends. Della had only a few dollars left over from her small salary. This sentence fragment emphasizes that fact while still leaving room for speculation about what kind of gift she might choose. This use of sentence fragments is common in short stories where dialogue is used to reveal information about the characters. In novels, writers often add description or background information to help readers understand who these people are and what makes them interesting. Sentence fragments are also useful when writing in first person. If you want to show the reader how someone is feeling or thinking, you can do so without using complete sentences by simply including punctuation at the end of phrases such as "I thought," "It seemed like," or "I couldn't help but wonder." These types of fragments are called incomplete sentences because they are not fully formed words; instead, they are just part of a phrase or clause. In first person narratives, this type of fragment can be very effective because it allows the writer to paint a clearer picture of what is going through the character's mind.