Where To Break A Paragraph

The writing process is more than simply following a few rules. When it comes to deciding whether to break a paragraph, there are factors to consider beyond the "five sentences" rule that many of us unfortunately were taught in school. The length of a paragraph varies according to purpose, complexity, medium, intended audience, and information type.

Academic writing may consist of long paragraphs, even 250 words or more. This allows for depth of examination, thoroughness of argument, rich technical detail, and citation of multiple sources.
Newspaper columns are narrow, thus visually demand shorter paragraphs, typically 100 words or fewer. Often, the longer the article, the greater the variation of paragraph length.
Creative writing varies widely. A character's state of mind can be reflected by the use of long, wandering stream-of-consciousness paragraphs. In contrast, a fast-moving action scene may consist of a series of short paragraphs and one-line dialogue.
Online material frequently is composed of short simple sentences and short paragraphs. Bulleted lists are acceptable and often more effective in this medium than narrative paragraphs.
Business letters often are scanned lightly rather than read word-for-word, so short paragraphs are appropriate.
Writing for young audiences, particularly young adult fiction, demands a balance of short and longer paragraphs to capture the attention without condescension.
In almost any medium, one-sentence paragraphs can be used to draw particular emphasis.

When faced with a paragraph that feels either too long or too short, consider these questions.

* Is there a natural transition point in this process or narration?
* If the paragraph were read aloud, would the audience "hear" it end before it does on paper?
* Can some repeated ideas be struck?
* Does the audience expect all at precisely this moment?
* Can dialogue be used instead of description here?
* Could a "missing" statement be inserted to create the beginning of a new paragraph?
* What else does the reader need to know?
* Can this paragraph be attached to the previous/next paragraph?
* What would happen if the paragraph were eliminated?

When in doubt, let your personal writing style be the guide. James Joyce wrote incredibly long paragraphs; Ernest Hemingway's quick-firing dialogues sometimes read more like scripts. Yet both are revered.

By: AnnaLisa Michalski

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AnnaLisa Michalski writes and publishes the blog Word-wise and owns and operates Sunny Words Writing Services, a freelance writing/editing company.