Some articles have many one-sentence paragraphs and it is very annoying. Whenever I see this, I change it into one or two larger paragraphs. What is the convention, if any, on starting new paragraphs, and should it be changed? -LittleDan
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Daniel Ehrenberg wrote:
Some articles have many one-sentence paragraphs and it is very annoying. Whenever I see this, I change it into one or two larger paragraphs. What is the convention, if any, on starting new paragraphs, and should it be changed?
This is a matter of style that will vary with the subject, and the individual article. I can't begin to imagine any workable policy on this.
Ec
At 12:23 PM 4/27/03 -0700, LittleDan wrote:
Some articles have many one-sentence paragraphs and it is very annoying. Whenever I see this, I change it into one or two larger paragraphs. What is the convention, if any, on starting new paragraphs, and should it be changed?
There isn't a specific Wiki convention. The general convention in writing English is that a paragraph should consist of related thoughts. If it gets too long, look for a good break point. But don't run unrelated sentences together into a single paragraph.
If (hypothetical) I'm working on an article about a musician, and all that's available are her date and location of birth, what albums she's released, and her unsuccessful campaign for Secretary General, that last doesn't go in the same paragraph even if it's only one sentence. The albums could all go in one paragraph, or each get its own, depending on how much information is available.
Vicki Rosenzweig wrote:
At 12:23 PM 4/27/03 -0700, LittleDan wrote: If (hypothetical) I'm working on an article about a musician, and all that's available are her date and location of birth, what albums she's released, and her unsuccessful campaign for Secretary General, that last doesn't go in the same paragraph even if it's only one sentence.
Another benefit of Wiki: Even though it's one sentence, it could later become a paragraph. For example, Jello Biafra, lead singer of the band Dead Kennedys could have an article with much information relating to his musical career. A one-sentence paragraph saying "He ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1979" could add that he lost, and that a campaign slogan of his was "There's always room for Jello".
Daniel Ehrenberg wrote:
Some articles have many one-sentence paragraphs and it is very annoying.
Good style is hard to define in simple terms.
But paragraphs of a single sentence often read badly.
They sound stilted.
But it's one of those things where you just have to use your judgement as a writer. Sometimes a single sentence paragraph is good, sometimes not.
On Sun, 27 Apr 2003, tarquin wrote:
Daniel Ehrenberg wrote:
Some articles have many one-sentence paragraphs and it is very annoying.
Good style is hard to define in simple terms.
But paragraphs of a single sentence often read badly.
They sound stilted.
But it's one of those things where you just have to use your judgement as a writer. Sometimes a single sentence paragraph is good, sometimes not.
And sometimes you stumble across an entry that makes you wonder how it slipped beneath the radar for so long.
I direct the curious to [[Amanda Pays]], & to study the history of that article. Boy, did it need some cleaning up.
And for the record, years ago I did have a crush on Ms Pays. And I still haven't made my peace with Corbin Bernsen.
Geoff