Word: Paragraph

Pronunciation

/ˈpærəɡræf/

Definitions

• Noun: A section of text consisting of one or more sentences that develop a particular theme or idea, usually separated from other such sections by a blank line or indentation. It forms a unit within a written composition. For example: “The first paragraph of the essay outlined the main argument.”

  Example sentence: In her letter, Jane wrote a heartfelt paragraph expressing her gratitude.

• Verb (non-standard usage): To write or arrange something in paragraphs. For example: “The author paragraphed the story effectively to make it easy to read.”

  Example sentence: After editing, he decided to paragraph his thoughts more clearly to improve readability.

Phrases

• “Paragraph break”: A space between paragraphs, often indicated by a line skip or indentation, which signals a shift in topic or thought.
• “Introductory paragraph”: The opening paragraph of a piece of writing, typically introducing the main topic or thesis statement.
• “Supporting paragraphs”: The paragraphs in a piece of writing that provide evidence, explanation, or examples to back up the central idea introduced in the introductory paragraph.

Example Sentences

• Noun: “Each paragraph in the contract contained specific details about the agreement terms.”
• Verb: “The writer needed to paragraph his lengthy email to make it easier on the reader’s eyes.”

Synonyms

• Section
• Passage
• Segment
• Division (of text)
• Clause (in a literary context)