11.

THE PARAGRAMH
or link word or phrase, such as Again, Berides, Hovever, Nevenbe
les, In sborn, On tbe otber band, etc. While such connettives are
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
often useful, and sometimes necessary, it is better to avoid using
them to excess, and wherever possible to frame sentences in such
a way that extraneous aids of this sort are unnecessary.
The Paragraph The function of the paragraph is best understood if we think ot
a chain as consisting of a number of separate links. Each link ts
complete unit in itself; it serves in addition to connect the links
But true Expression, like th' unchanging Sun, immediately betore and immediately after it. In the same way each
Clean and improves whate'er it shines upon. paragraph is a unit, since it deals with only one topic; at the same time
A. Pope:Essay on Criticism it serves to cary the reader forward to the next stage in the
development of the writer's theme.
FUNCTION ESSENTIAL QUALITIES

The purpose of paragraphing, like that of pungruation, is to help The cssential qualities of a good paragraph are unity and coherence,
the writer to convey, his message more dearly/ and thus to make
Unity
things easier for the reader. It also facilitates reference.
Unicy mcans thar the paragraph deals with only one main idea or
Particular items and ideas are quickly pinpointed when we say,
for example, "in the second paragraph of your letter". topic. Ey<y sentence in the paragraph should bear upon this topic;
A paragraph may consist of a single sentence, but it will more any sentence that does not should be excluded and transíerred toa
usually consist of a collection of sentences closely related to one aew paragraph. This oconcentration of the paragraph
another because thcy deal with the same subject-matter-the same upon a single
topic or theme, or at least a new aspect of the topic under
consider ation. A Business Letter
Each paragraph should deal with only one idea and every sentence in
the paragraph should have a distinct bearing upon the sentences that Februery 19..
precede and follow it. Assoon as the idea dealt with is eahauxed another The lorowgh Treawrer
paragraph should be begun. It folows that there is a greater break of
The To 1l
thought between paragraphs than between sentences.
To ty to deal with more than one topie in the same paragraph
Lr
$T. AS

'
confuses the reader. The opposite fault of dealing with one topie¢in wo
or more paragraphs is no less confusing, though it is common practice Dar Si
nowadays for articde n newspapers, adverasing copy and popular
arate Load
magazines to be presented in very short paragraphs to make for easy
reading for a mass 2udience, many of whom do not find reading easy, No hae reeestly krovght the property at the abov? dte

rules can be given for what is a suitable length for th coplatios titrent rece [vd Ir
3 paragraph. What is suitable depends upon dhe length and scope isber, Solicltor, li tae lded the Iron
of the total subject-matter and the writer's assessment of the M.rirstu. These vi coiete on ac
reader's intelligence and leel of understanding. lt.may be said,
however, thar in business writing we tend to divide our material ot thz.33 for Ceneral

into small topics and to use much shorter paragraphs than is aors Laslia, Mrria
customary for literary work, altrdy Mreh MIE r, Jnd 1
If a paragaph deals with a new 2spect of the topic delt with in the paid by M. tigoct up t l
preceding paragraph it will often be introduced by a connective
shell sot
264
Tnt able co occupy 1 Mrgare kow iediatelf, preaentandprejerty

is e Intk toAtido sothentilhovHlcanÍn«llMarate od vlIl

Lndoa. ahlt
rmsin nfurniumd

**
bauT tins unfurn Dhed, t the o [7.} pald b
fer the rid D Len ol it

d toff gaine the rates s

islieablt, *ill k areeptAMres.

er to i 04 er ueh
glad it rou woul4 kialy eonfirn that)this ia to.

Toure faithf«ily

. A A.i .3edth
 . dhe point made in the ropie sentence.s it s aled, by the
CAAMAAR AND SYNTAR sddiion of erplna tory or supplementiry infomsion relatiagto it
topic helps the reader to folow the writer's tain of tbourht aone The topit sentence serves as a sipmpost to the meLning of
che whole paragaph, und accordingly calls for emphass,
step 1t a time, 1nd thus make for daity and isist Comprchension.
Amention mu therefore be iven to its ponion in he pararapb.
This letter is well purgaphed. Ehd of the three parzgmphs deals
As with the
in rrn wich a separate topie, and no imelevant mater is inoduced.
The three topics dealt with are:
fal purchase of the ptoperry:
b) inabiliy to occupy it; cd payment of ares.

Coherenc
It is not by itself enonga tht al the serntences forming a paragrngh
shoud relsre to the ame poiT; they must develop the point narar aly
nd logicaly. in otherwords, the puraraph dhould be so consucted
thar one sentence leads naurally to the next, other ise it may fail to
mike ins point dear and eave che reader with an un-corttin notion
of hat it is ail abaut,
The following paragaph faik to develop its poit naturny.

tat Peaxteson iba

ia vdy eft to the ypi (w Net iafreqedy
mArk ean fel Sch etrDcs ay aot be goed eateeces, td tit i e
(e The tyrist t
puneaatidn upert of brr proleion minin
Following the nanunl sequence the parnaph would be
improwed it recast in the order (e), fa). (bi, (c), ()

Puacreaioii cange to che ypist parn of ber prefeasonal miwing, and

la besii aly let to her. Not infrequencly a venienee

be icated

charpend loe ia meening upon cbe NTNOS Ars saed Sued

ene may ox be ood KDC,b s in the rypixiay to e tha the

pactadom d
reann te eaning inended

THE TOMC SENTENCE

Aswe have seen, a good paragraph will deal with onty one topic
or point. This topic wil usualy be announced in one of the
sentences, the function of the other sentences being to elaborare
 $3.THL PALAGAM
O oenun to me, hawevet, chr the
entece, the emphtic positions in a parmph are at the bep
Adact ry aTangemat woud be to bet pryment upon an upeed
nd the d, nd si
y't soch

nule the copic sentace shouk apper un one

of
of these o places. If x coms st the berinning of the parapn
a day, snd lesve t to you to decide whut ronstitutes a
the conricios is aid to be toose, and if it comes tl the end,
wor
prriodic
T etem ereion in ths counry at rhe preaa rime b not ry
The lease pengnh
good.
prelerred position for the vopic sentence, sptcily in business
F dieciosria are mfkienty up to dave to be of very maeh help. Lven
en, at
e Oxfard Dirtonary in et of do, sd ia most eent Supplement, not
the bepinning of the piraaaph, for then it bas the
yn miabe in boend lom, docs no ake the revision beyond 1914. Soae
doubk dvantage of being both proninent and
of the maller dicvionaries kawe been rrried more tecently, and of these the
o capabe or
MONt
anural and lopical development through the eemainder of ihe pan
l pper tp be Ceasi Oxford, Cmbtn, and Colins.
mph.We mu be ca the lookout, ihen, fot the sentences thar
o
iarroducr Dew topica representing chane in the thoughs of the
yowl u bk to ercept my iviation. May I suggesr that you join
witer as be develops his general heme. These sentences tel the one day xt
e for kch wrek hen, afoer a discuslon of
ader what tbe paramph is about and help him to follow the writer's
some of th
rain o thought. Ia the fallowiag exampe the ropie sentencesare
probiem iolred in te aion, you coukd perhap give me your deinion.
ia italics. I shall look lorard to bariat frord yoe.

Yoa sicerely
Der Me. Lbeber,

end. Eiand Slortbnd Dictionry. Our tint problen a te find

ont sbk und wining to prepare e lia of oe words bhat have come into
editrd, and a
w ther te Dictdonary wu ler delene thoe that
die
have falnto Ls seh an euat that thetr inehunon in » dietionery

oh

hind eoald not asonably be eaprctrd.

T pof tbia kete n ta inrite yos te »adenatr tbe wquirrd raniiom

eat aft to ngrend wpon. Untila tart has been mude on the work It

imple

ta estima te the enh of time it ia ikely to ake, and conse

n am uMbe to kafe. t
264 IL GRAMMAR AND $YNTAX
269
In this letter cach paragraph deals with only one topic. As each
17. THE PAACRAPH
new topic is introduced a new paragraph is begun, the writer's
thoughts moving naturally from one point to the next-from publi- I have receatly bought a bungalou in lexhil
cation in the first paragraph, to invitation in the second, to the ndould 1ike to hae central heating installed. four
dictionary position in the third, and on to the final appeal. Each
address brve been gives to
paragtaph is introduced by a sentence that refers so suitably ro
the subjeci-matter that the reader is left in no doubt as to whar the ad by the anager
paragraph is about. of arclays Bank, and I should be glad to kno vhether
ou rold undertake this vork for very gon,
The periodic panngraph
Less usualy che topic sentence will be placed at the end of the oE fTea iondo ba mov becone 4 Mtter et urgeney.
para-graph. This is done when the paragraph begins by dearing up The blocked paragraph
some preliminary matter, or when the aim is to gather evidence This type of display is now firmly established for main pararaphs
leading to Conclusion or to build upan effercive climax. Again, in in the business letter (see p. 162) and also for inset parngraphs and or
the follow ing example the topic sentences are in italics. quotadons that appear within the body of the letter. Each line
in the paraaph, including the first, begins at the same vertical
Dear Slr,
point of the paper.
Weundertand thst yos have been eitablhed in the Soeth African market for
many yeas, and that you have budt upa wide coBneetion anmong buyen
there. We also undentand thar yo perialize ia the marketing of cketrica
APPiinces snd machinery, We hve recently extendedeur factona at Luton t you ces undertake the vork I should 1ike to have an
n4 Bedlord and are now anzious to wides he murker for our increaed of the cont. 1 ancloee
outpuL We ee tbeefore writg to invite you to sccrpt pent. tiara rough rlan el te Property
a
so nd giw Hlwa list af ny propoied nade:
ecorpt. apents for tbe Repubhic on terma te be emanged, and bope you Laiting boiler to be replaeed by Crane Cevndlah
Your faichfully, Mo,4 sie, utoatic solid fuel boiler. provlded thie

sire of boller ia adequate for heating both domaatie

r upply end seven redlatora, and lsotowel

DISPLAY
rall in the bathroo.
If it is to serve its purpose of helping the reader the paragraph must
be displayed so a to "catch the eye". Wich sentences this is done by
Th art to be careied out fron under the 11oot
leaving & space (two or three strokea of the space bar ia cype ln
writing) after the full-stop. In parngraphing it is done by order to avold cutting or 1tting flooring
commencing the first sentence on a new line arnd by displaying the
parph in avariety of ways, Three difterent devicts ar used.
The hanging paragraph
The indented paragraph
This was previoushy by far the commonest type of display This type of parriph is used only u a pecinl device. Its eflect is
noTmaly found in business letters. The first word of the paramph to throw the fir« few words into prominence. The frst word of the
is set badk (in typewriting, five spaces from the kft-hand mangin paragraph begins at the efthand margin, the remaining lines being
for pica type and six for
indented-usually two to five spaces in typewriting. t is thus a
preferred). dite type, though more extended spacings are sometimes
reversal of the device used for the indented paragraph.
Our rrd fer self-dlecipline and the acceptanee ef soelal raspoeibLiity
ia aot necessarily pey or power, but elt reaprct ard the raspect of
oter.
ffa ma in not the sort to peise upon diseipline somathbing
conEributing aightily te bie 1ife' happine
tonstruCtie
foree. protectín iorca- then he just ust bear with it, for be cansot capa it.
Ie is bETer to ake diaeipline somthing that vill help us to 3et
vhat * vInt out of life than to be dríven into seceptin it as a
pitiless forre.
(Royal Bank of Canada: Wenthjr Letter)
 I, GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX
270
Headed paragraphs
If a letter is lengthy, containing a number of paragraphs cach dealing
with a scparate point, it may be convenient either to number the
paragraphs or to give them headings, or even both. This makes
subsequent reference easier, and is an advantage where subsequent
correspondence is likely to deal with the various points separately.

Referriag to your quotation of 29 Novecber and our conversation

laat Thursday afternoon, t shall de glad if you vill
now arrange
to put the folloving vork in hand:
x Roon, Brick valls to be plastered; exposed floor board
under dormer vindow to be boarded in with suitable aaterial; *pace
for radiator to be left under vindow, struts to be fully covered
ith Svediah hardboard or other suitable neterial; ceiling beans
behind radiator to be boarded in; spaces on both sides of the
radiator to be fitted vith slidias panel doors on suitable runners
to give accens to storage space bebhind and to roof.
ElectrisPoints Points to be supplied in lounge, in front and
back bedroons douns tairs; one independeat bed light to be fitted
in ceiling in each rooa above pointe indicated by chalk arks
on floor, the lighte to be operated by a pull vitch; one point
to be fitted in bathroam to take 1 lw electric heater.
GaraRe: Door to be ade in exieting brickvork, to give entrance
to back of garage fron garden.

If numbers are us d for the paragraphs they may or may not be

placed within brackets, An unr may or may not be
y
placed within brackets. An unbracketed number is followed by a
fulstop, but numbers within brackets are suffīciently distinctive
to make the use of full-stops unnecessary. Thus:

2. 3. or
(1)
Paragraph headings may be typed in either upper-case or lower
case characters, followed by a full-stop or colon, or even by a dash.
If lower-case characters are used they should be underlined to
make dear the distinction berween heading and text.

Subsidiary paragraphs
For inset or subsidiary paragraphs any one of the three forms of
paragraph display may be used. To emphasize the distinction it
may, however, be advisable to adopt different forms of display for
main and subsidiary paragraphs, the blocked form of subsidiary
paragraph being the one most commonly used with indented main
paragraphs.
 17. TIR PARAGRAPII
LENGTII OF PARAGRAPIH
There is no hard-and-fast rule about the length of the paragraph.
Some paragraphs will be long: others short. Length will vary,
with circumstances and will be dictated by the unity of the
subject matter.
In the business letter short paragxaphs are preferable to long.
Short paragraphs not only give the letter an attractive appearance
but also cnable the reader to grasp the writer's points more quickly.
A solid unbroken text has an uninteresting appearancC and oten
proves tiresome to the reader; to divide the same text into paragraphs
gives it a touch of lightness and stimulates interest. On the other hand,
a series of very short paragraphs may produce a jerky effect, and far
from helping the reader may prove a hindrance to him. The need for
care in paragraphing is therefore obvious.
Where a letter deals with a number of separate matters its arrange
ment into paragraphs will not be difficult. In lengthy reports of
technical character, for example, the natural brcaks in the text
aa
wil usually be clear. But when a letter deals in detail with only
one topic, the division of the text into paragraphs calls for
prudence and dis cernment. Care must be taken to discover the
logical changes in the Writer's thoughts, and with each change of
thought to begin a new paragraph.