User:Aymatth2/paragraphs

Due to the nature of Wikipedia, it is not always practical to follow standard rules for structuring paragraphs. Section headings can provide a practical alternative.

Theory[edit]

Well-structured paragraphs make articles easier to read and understand. Most experts say that in non-fiction writing each paragraph should have one primary theme. The first sentence says what the paragraph is about, subsequent sentences cover aspects of the topic and a final sentence wraps up with a summary or conclusion. Some writing experts say a paragraph should have at least five sentences, but there may be cases when a shorter paragraph is appropriate. Very long paragraphs may cause problems, since the reader may get lost in a large block of text. An arbitrary break may help them keep track of their position if the paragraph would otherwise completely fill the screen of a mobile device. An editor should follow these rules if possible – but it is not always possible.

Problem[edit]

One of Wikipedia's most basic principles is that an article should say only what the sources say. The editor should not add any personal opinions or original research. But there may be no source for the first and last sentences in a paragraph. For example:

The 1960s were a busy and productive decade for Smith. He climbed a mountain. He got married. He painted some pictures. He got a government job. He painted more pictures. He achieved a lot in this period.

When citations are given for the sourced sentences, this becomes:

The 1960s were a busy and productive decade for Smith. He climbed a mountain.^[13] He got married.^[14] He painted some pictures.^[15] He got a government job.^[16] He painted more pictures.^[15] He achieved a lot in this period.

But this incorrectly implies that the first sentence is covered by citation [13], and leaves the last sentence without a citation. Annotations would make the original research clear:

The 1960s were a busy and productive decade for Smith.^{[citation needed]} He climbed a mountain.^[13] He got married.^[14] He painted some pictures.^[15] He got a government job.^[16] He painted more pictures.^[15] He achieved a lot in this period.^{[citation needed]}

This is correct but very awkward. The reader will by mystified by the ^{[citation needed]} annotations on statements that seem completely uncontroversial. Rather than make original opening and closing assertions that pull together the sentences into an overall topic, some editors therefore start each sentence on a new line, which can also be very awkward:

Smith climbed a mountain.^[13]

He got married.^[14]

He painted some pictures.^[15]

He got a government job.^[16]

He painted more pictures.^[15]

Short paragraphs may occasionally be justified, but this is ridiculous.

Solution[edit]

The main principle is to present what the sources say, and only what the sources say. Readers are just looking for the facts, and the facts should be able to speak for themselves. The facts will be easy to follow if they appear in a natural sequence. The opening and closing sentences in a paragraph are not essential. A section heading can substitute for the opening sentence, telling the reader what the text that follows is about. The reader can draw their own conclusion in place of the closing sentence. Thus:

1960s

Smith climbed a mountain.^[13] He got married.^[14] He painted some pictures.^[15] He got a government job.^[16] He painted more pictures.^[15]

This avoids the original research problem, and is clear and accessible. Secondary benefits are that the section headers guide future editors on where to place new detail in the article, and that readers can skip direct from the table of contents to the paragraphs that have the information they want. They do not have to scan the whole article. Ideally paragraphs will still have introductory and concluding sentences, but only if they can be sourced. Otherwise, section headings provide an acceptable alternative.