paragraph
B1Neutral/Formal
Definition
Meaning
A distinct section of a piece of writing, usually dealing with a single theme and indicated by a new line, indentation, or numbering.
A brief article, notice, or report on a specific topic, or a symbol (¶) used to mark a new paragraph.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a unit of written or printed discourse; conceptually a block of text organized around a single idea. Can be used metonymically to refer to a short piece of writing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or use. The verb form 'to paragraph' (to arrange in paragraphs) is rare but slightly more attested in British legal/formal contexts.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in all registers in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + paragraph: write/compose/indent/skip a paragraph[adjective] + paragraph: coherent/well-structured/topical paragraphparagraph + [verb]: the paragraph argues/describes/explains/outlinesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “¶ (pilcrow symbol, called 'paragraph mark')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports, emails, and proposals to structure arguments (e.g., 'See paragraph 3.2 of the contract').
Academic
Fundamental unit of essay and thesis construction; used in citations (e.g., 'as discussed in the previous paragraph').
Everyday
Common in school assignments and general writing advice (e.g., 'Start a new paragraph for each main idea').
Technical
In publishing and word processing, refers to a unit of text formatting with specific indentation, spacing, and alignment settings.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The solicitor carefully paragraphed the affidavit.
- Please paragraph your submission clearly.
American English
- The judge asked for the document to be paragraphed.
- She paragraphed her response for better readability.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The text was arranged paragraphically.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The ideas were presented paragraph-wise.
adjective
British English
- The paragraph structure was flawless.
- Follow the paragraph format given in the style guide.
American English
- Check your paragraph length.
- A paragraph break is needed here.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Write a short paragraph about your family.
- The first paragraph of the story is very exciting.
- Can you summarise the main idea of this paragraph?
- Make sure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence.
- The author devotes an entire paragraph to dismantling the opposing argument.
- The contract's indemnity clause is detailed in paragraph 8.4.
- Her prose is so dense that a single paragraph can sustain multiple, conflicting interpretations.
- The legislation was amended by inserting a new paragraph (c) after subsection (ii).
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PARAde of GRAPHs (ideas), each marching in its own separate block on the page.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER for a single thought; A BUILDING BLOCK of a larger argument.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'параграф' (which usually means 'section' or '§' in a legal/textbook context) as a direct translation for a general text paragraph. The Russian 'абзац' is the closer equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Writing very long paragraphs without a clear single focus.
- Confusing 'paragraph' with 'line' or 'sentence'.
- Incorrect spelling: 'paragrath', 'paragrapgh'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a paragraph?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no fixed rule. A paragraph can be one sentence or many, but it should be long enough to fully develop its main idea. In academic writing, paragraphs often contain 3-10 sentences.
It is called a pilcrow (¶). It is used in editing and legal texts to mark paragraph breaks.
Yes, but it is rare and mostly formal/legal. It means 'to arrange or divide into paragraphs'.
A paragraph is a unit of prose (non-poetic) writing. A stanza is a grouped set of lines in a poem, equivalent to a verse.