People seem to have a pretty clear idea of what a paragraphe is. You know, that little section of text that goes from one idea to the next. But, what is a punctuation mark? That is a question I have asked myself many times. Is it even a thing? How many spaces should there be between sentences in a paragraph? Should writers use a period at the end of every paragraph? Does it depend on the length of the paragraph? What style should I use to write this kind of article? Creative writing?
I decided to look into this question because I have recently been told, explicitly, not to use a full stop in a work of fiction. Apparently, it is ‘common practice’ in Ireland for writers to use a semicolon instead of a full stop to mark the end of a paragraph. According to my research, this is because a full stop is often used at the end of a letter and, in fiction, letters are considered to be ‘sales pitches’ from businesses or organizations trying to sell you something (this is a theory, but one I hope is true). So, if a business wants to sell you a property, they will use a letter to try and convince you to buy their home. If they succeed in getting you to read their letter, they will use a full stop at the end to make you think they have ended the letter and you should buy their home. Therefore, in case you want to write a letter to convince someone to book a wedding or anniversary celebration at your restaurant, you might want to avoid using a full stop at the end of the first paragraph. This could potentially cause you some trouble.
Why Not A Full Stop?
The reason a full stop may not be appropriate in a work of fiction is that, generally, you are not supposed to use it. It is a tool that has been designed for use in ‘real life’ and not in a ‘make-believe’ world. If you need more evidence regarding the proper use of punctuation, look no further than the following sources:
- The Chicago Manual of Style: A guide to writing, editing, and publishing your work; 7th ed., Chicago: Beard Books, 2015;
- The Gregg Reference Manual: A complete guide to English usage, Thomas D. Van Cleef, Daniel J. Bradley, editors, Mark C. Hall, series editor; Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016;
- The King James Bible: A contemporary guide to English usage, Michael D. Reeve, general editor; London: Bloomsbury, 2016.
So, what now? Should I use a semicolon instead of a full stop to mark the end of a paragraph? That is a question you should ask yourself. The answer, in my opinion, depends on many factors. The first and most important factor is how you intend on using the paragraph in question. If you are using it to highlight a point or idea, then a semicolon may be the perfect choice. If you are using it as a sentence fragment, a colon might be a better option. It is always preferable to make use of the full power of the English language and not a half-baked approximation of it. If you want to write an authoritative sales pitch, use a colon; if you just need to provide some information, use a semicolon. Another important factor is the length of the paragraph. If you have a very short paragraph, you might want to consider using a period; however, if your paragraph is longer than three or four sentences, using a colon or a semicolon to mark its end might not be the best idea.
Full Stop For Short Paragraphs
If you are writing for a business or academic audience and your paragraph is less than three or four sentences, then you may want to consider using a full stop. After all, they have been known to be useful for short paragraphs. Here is a short list of some of the things you could write about using a full stop:
- To introduce a new product or service.
- To summarize or restate a previously mentioned point or idea.
- To mark a change in a person, place, or thing.
- To conclude a letter, email, or tweet.
- To end a phone call or conversation.
- To introduce a new chapter or section.
- To transition to a different topic or send a signal that you are changing tack.
So, there you have it. Just remember, when it comes to marking the end of a paragraph, one size doesn’t fit all.