To improve your writing, try focusing on well-structured paragraphs that guide your reader smoothly through your ideas. Solid writing divides ideas into units, each paragraph being devoted to a single main topic or point. Paragraphing in this way helps the reader follow your argument and grasp the progression of your thoughts. Starting each paragraph with a clear topic sentence signals to the reader what to expect.
Paragraphs should begin and end in harmony, reinforcing the main idea. The opening sentence introduces the subject. The middle sentences support the main idea and ensure that the reader will fully understand the point being made. The closing sentence typically underscores the point without seeming duplicative. Avoid ending paragraphs with irrelevant details or digressions: they weaken focus and undermine readers’ engagement. Altogether, the structure recommended here strengthens coherence by linking ideas both within paragraphs and between them.
Oh, yes, between them: to be compelling, your paragraphs should link onto one another. That means that your topic sentences should generally include a transitional word or phrase of some kind. For some good illustrations of these linkages, see The Winning Brief § 21, at 161–68 (3d ed. 2014) and Legal Writing in Plain English § 25, at 125–32 (3d ed. 2023).
The length and subdivision of paragraphs depend on the subject’s complexity and purpose. A small topic may need only one paragraph, while a detailed analysis may require a few or even several focused paragraphs.
Sound paragraphing will improve your readability and persuasiveness by respecting the reader’s cognitive rhythm and making your writing more disciplined and focused. It is the foundation for effective writing in any field.
Next week: paragraphs in transactional drafting.