paragraph
paragraph
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "paragraph" can vary slightly depending on the accent (General American vs. Received Pronunciation). Here are both:
General American: /ˈpærəˌɡræf/
Syllable 1: /pæɹ/
/p/: voiceless bilabial plosive (as in "pat")
/æ/: near-open front unrounded vowel (as in "cat")
/ɹ/: alveolar approximant (as in "red")
Syllable 2: /ə/
/ə/: schwa, a mid-central vowel (as in "about")
Syllable 3: /ɡræf/
/ɡ/: voiced velar plosive (as in "go")
/ɹ/: alveolar approximant (as in "red")
/æ/: near-open front unrounded vowel (as in "cat")
/f/: voiceless labiodental fricative (as in "fan")
Received Pronunciation (British English): /ˈpærəɡrɑːf/
Syllable 1: /pæɹ/
/p/: voiceless bilabial plosive (as in "pat")
/æ/: near-open front unrounded vowel (as in "cat")
/ɹ/: alveolar approximant (as in "red")
Syllable 2: /ə/
/ə/: schwa, a mid-central vowel (as in "about")
Syllable 3: /ɡrɑːf/
/ɡ/: voiced velar plosive (as in "go")
/r/: alveolar trill (though often realized as an approximant) (as in "red")
/ɑː/: open back unrounded vowel, long (as in "father")
/f/: voiceless labiodental fricative (as in "fan")
Word Form Variations
Noun Forms:
Singular: paragraph
Plural: paragraphs
While "paragraph" is overwhelmingly used as a noun, it can sometimes be used in a more active sense, though less commonly as a standalone verb in the way "run" or "eat" are. When it acts like a verb, it usually implies the act of dividing something into paragraphs or forming a paragraph.
Verb Forms (less common, often used informally or in specific contexts):
Base form/Infinitive: to paragraph (e.g., "You need to paragraph your essay better.")
Present Simple (third-person singular): paragraphs (e.g., "He paragraphs his notes meticulously.")
Past Simple: paragraphed (e.g., "She paragraphed the document yesterday.")
Present Participle/Gerund: paragraphing (e.g., "Paragraphing effectively is key to clear writing.")
Past Participle: paragraphed (e.g., "The text has been poorly paragraphed.")
Adjective Forms:
"Paragraph" itself isn't an adjective. However, words derived from it or used in relation to it can function as adjectives. For example:
Paragraphic: (less common, meaning "of or relating to a paragraph")
Paragraphed: (as a past participle acting as an adjective, e.g., "a well-paragraphed essay")
More commonly, other adjectives are used to describe a paragraph (e.g., "long paragraph," "introductory paragraph," "descriptive paragraph").
Adverb Forms:
There are no direct adverb forms of "paragraph." Adverbs would typically describe how something is paragraphed (e.g., "clearly," "coherently").
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1 (Primary): A distinct section of a piece of writing, typically dealing with a single theme or idea, that begins on a new line and often includes indentation. It serves to organize and present information in a logical and digestible manner.
Synonyms: section, passage, segment, block of text, clause (in a legal context), stanza (in poetry, analogous)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a unit of text. Concepts like "unstructured text" or "run-on sentence" could be considered functional opposites in terms of organization.)
Definition 2 (Less common, informal): A brief, often unstated, message or piece of information that is conveyed or understood without explicit elaboration; an unspoken implication.
Synonyms: implication, subtext, hint, insinuation, nuance, undercurrent
Antonyms: explicit statement, clear declaration, direct communication
Verb
Definition 1 (Transitive - To divide into paragraphs): To break down or organize a continuous piece of text into distinct sections, each forming a paragraph, to improve readability and structure.
Synonyms: section, divide, organize, format, segment, block out
Antonyms: run on, combine, merge, unstructure
Definition 2 (Intransitive - To write in paragraphs): To formulate or express ideas in the structure of paragraphs, often implying a focus on clarity and organization in writing.
Synonyms: compose (in paragraphs), articulate (in sections), write (structurally)
Antonyms: ramble, waffle, free-write (without structure), disorganize
Adjective
Note: "Paragraph" itself is not typically used as an adjective. When used attributively, it's often acting as a noun adjunct (e.g., "paragraph break"). However, if we were to stretch its use as an adjective describing something related to or characteristic of a paragraph, it would be less common and might require context.
Definition 1 (Hypothetical, very rare, informal): Characterized by or consisting of paragraphs; pertaining to the structure or division of text into paragraphs.
Synonyms: sectional, segmented, divided, structured (in terms of paragraphs)
Antonyms: unparagraphed, continuous, unsegmented, undivided
Adverb
Note: "Paragraph" does not function as an adverb in standard English. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and "paragraph" does not fit this role.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The first paragraph of 'A Tale of Two Cities' famously begins, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...'" (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859)
"She read the dense legal document, trying to decipher each complex paragraph for hidden meanings."
Newspapers:
"An editorial in The New York Times today dedicated an entire paragraph to the nuances of the new economic policy."
"Local residents voiced concerns about the proposed development in a two-paragraph letter to the editor published this morning."
Online Publications:
"This blog post features short, digestible paragraphs to improve readability on mobile devices." (TechCrunch)
"Please refer to the final paragraph of our privacy policy for details on data retention." (Google Support Page)
"In the concluding paragraph of her analysis, the author suggests a shift in global power dynamics." (Foreign Affairs)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Social Media (e.g., X/Twitter): "Just typed out a whole paragraph on why that movie ending was terrible, but then deleted it. Too much for 280 characters."
Online Forums/Reddit: "The user's comment was a massive paragraph with no line breaks, making it very difficult to read."
Screenplays/Scripts: (Often implied, but sometimes explicitly in stage directions or notes) "INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY. SARAH enters, takes a sip of her coffee, then delivers the next paragraph of dialogue with a sigh." (This is an example where a real-world script wouldn't explicitly say "paragraph," but the concept of a block of speech is there; this is a fictitious example to illustrate the use within the context of entertainment).
Video Game Tutorials/In-Game Text: "Read the preceding paragraph carefully for instructions on how to equip new items."
General Public Discourse:
"Could you just summarize that last paragraph for me? I lost my place."
"I'm trying to paragraph this report before the meeting, but it's proving difficult to break up the information logically." (Here, "paragraph" is used as a verb.)
"My English teacher always told me to make sure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence."
"Don't just give me one long paragraph; break down your argument into distinct points."
10 Quotes Using Paragraph
"The first paragraph of a book is a handshake between the author and the reader." (Stephen King, paraphrased from various interviews and writings on writing)
"A good paragraph is a miniature essay in itself, with a beginning, a middle, and an end." (Unknown, common writing advice)
"I often find that a single well-crafted paragraph can convey more meaning than pages of rambling prose."
"The beauty of a well-structured document lies in its clear paragraph breaks."
"Do not let a long paragraph intimidate you; break it down into its core ideas."
"Every new paragraph offers a fresh start, a new angle on the ongoing narrative."
"Sometimes, the most challenging part of writing is knowing where to end one paragraph and begin the next."
"He argued his case, one persuasive paragraph after another, until the jury was convinced."
"A misplaced comma can derail a sentence; a disorganized paragraph can undermine an entire argument."
"The concluding paragraph should leave the reader with a lasting impression, a final thought to ponder."
Etymology
The word "paragraph" has a fascinating journey through ancient languages!
It essentially comes from Ancient Greek. The Greek word was "parágraphos" (παράγραφος). This word is made up of two parts:
"para-" (παρά): meaning "beside" or "alongside"
"gráphō" (γράφω): meaning "I write"
So, literally, "parágraphos" meant "to write beside" or "written beside."
First Known Use and Meaning:
In Ancient Greece, the "parágraphos" wasn't a block of text like we think of today. Instead, it was a physical mark – often a horizontal stroke or a symbol similar to an underscore – placed in the margin next to a line of text. Its purpose was to signal a change in the text, such as:
The beginning of a new section or subject.
A change of speaker in a dialogue (like in a play).
This mark helped readers know that something new was starting.
Over time, this Greek concept moved into Latin, becoming "paragraphus." Then, it made its way into Old French as "paragrafe" and eventually into Middle English as "paragraf" (around the late 14th or early 15th century).
Crucially, as printing became more common, the meaning of "paragraph" shifted. Instead of just referring to the mark itself, the word began to describe the actual block of text that the mark was meant to set apart. So, the idea of a distinct section of writing, usually dealing with a single idea and starting on a new line (often indented), became the primary meaning we use today. The original "paragraph mark" evolved into the pilcrow (¶) that you might still see in some documents or word processing programs to show hidden paragraph breaks.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Paragraph
While "paragraph" isn't as rich in idioms as some other words, here's a list of phrases, including some more direct uses and a few conceptual ones that leverage its meaning or incorporate synonyms for a similar effect.
"New paragraph": Used to indicate a shift to a new topic or to start afresh in a discussion.
"In the last paragraph": Referring to the concluding section of a text, often where a summary or final thought is presented.
"To paragraph something": To divide a continuous text into distinct sections or blocks for clarity.
"Long paragraph, short paragraph": Simple descriptive phrases about the length of a block of text.
"Run-on paragraph": Describes a paragraph that is excessively long or combines too many ideas without proper breaks, making it hard to read.
"Just a paragraph or two": Implying a brief amount of text or discussion.
"He read every paragraph": Emphasizing thoroughness in reading.
"Lost the paragraph": Referring to losing one's place while reading.
"A block of text": (Using a synonym for similar effect) A large, unbroken section of writing.
"To break up a passage": (Using a synonym for similar effect) To divide a continuous piece of writing into smaller, more manageable units.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of paragraph from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
