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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Making paragraphs with "first", "secondly", "thirdly".
I often use an introductory sentence in order to prepare the reader for a list of, say, three arguments that follow. E.g. "The main results of our analysis can be summarized as follows. First,... Secondly, ...Thirdly..."
If the arguments need some elaboration, I use three paragraphs in total. The first is: "The main results of our analysis can be summarized as follows. First,..."; the second then starts with "Secondly,..." and the third with "Thirdly,...".
I have now come across somebody who claims that I need four paragraphs, one for the introductory sentence, and then one for each of the three arguments, so that the second paragraph would start with "First...".
However, this seems unnatural to me, as I feel that the introductory sentence looks pretty odd in its own paragraph and should thus not be separated from the first argument.
Any input is highly appreciated.
If the arguments need some elaboration, I use three paragraphs in total. The first is: "The main results of our analysis can be summarized as follows. First,..."; the second then starts with "Secondly,..." and the third with "Thirdly,...".
I have now come across somebody who claims that I need four paragraphs, one for the introductory sentence, and then one for each of the three arguments, so that the second paragraph would start with "First...".
However, this seems unnatural to me, as I feel that the introductory sentence looks pretty odd in its own paragraph and should thus not be separated from the first argument.
Any input is highly appreciated.
Top answer
Anonymous the introductory sentence looks pretty odd in its own paragraph That may be, but it looked to me like you were going to include all three "summaries" in the first paragraph, not just one sentence. Paragraph 2 would therefore present the more detailed information about your first point, and so on. CJ
- Anonymous the introductory sentence looks pretty odd in its own paragraph That may be, but it looked to me like you were going to include all three "summaries" in the first paragraph, not just one sentence.
- Paragraph 2 would therefore present the more detailed information about your first point, and so on.
- CJ
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2 Answers
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Anonymousthe introductory sentence looks pretty odd in its own paragraphThat may be, but it looked to me like you were going to include all three "summaries" in the first paragraph, not just one sentence.
Paragraph 2 would therefore present the more detailed information about your first point, and so on.
CJ
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I'd suggest whatever you feel is most appropriate.
Having four sentences is normal, so you wouldn't be wrong doing by so, but if you feel three looks better, then maybe that's good, or you can put them all onto a single line. You'll generally want your readers to be of the same view though, whichever you use, so you could ask them for individual presentations you have written, maybe they'll be
Having four sentences is normal, so you wouldn't be wrong doing by so, but if you feel three looks better, then maybe that's good, or you can put them all onto a single line. You'll generally want your readers to be of the same view though, whichever you use, so you could ask them for individual presentations you have written, maybe they'll be
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