Type Form & Function

PARAGRAPH DIVISION. The word paragraph has its roots in the Greek word paragraphos: a break in sense or a change of speakers. Differentiating one paragraph from another helps readers distinguish between one idea and another when they are reading over a large body of text. Paragraph designators denote these differences through breaks, indentations, markers, or a combination thereof. New paragraphs can happen through a direct and abrupt separation between paragraphs with two hard returns. Tabs are another convention that is both recognizable and acceptable. When it comes to standard book texts, the Chicago Manual of Style specifies that a 0.5-inch (1.3 cm) indent be used for paragraphs or hanging indents. It’s a good model to follow when required, ...