What is paragraph editing?
Paragraph editing is ensuring that the flow of ideas presented in a paragraph makes sense to the reader. That means that sentences follow on each other logical, forming a coherent argument that’s easy to understand.
Useful resource
Learn to edit your own texts with this free email course. Over the next five days, you´ll receive a lesson + practice to sharpen your editing skills and and learn to polish your own work quickly.
Why is paragraph editing useful?
Easily digestible paragraphs help your reader make sense of your research quickly — if it’s immediately obvious what a paragraph is about, it’s much easier to skim a paper.
Common pitfalls
A common issue is that paragraphs try to cover more than one topic or argument, which leads to confusion. Focusing on a single purpose and maintaining clear internal logic makes each paragraph easier to follow and strengthens the overall clarity and persuasiveness of your writing.
How to write coherent paragraphs
In scientific writing, a paragraph is a unit of about 250 words that focus on a single topic or argument. Here are three strategies to write coherent paragraphs:
1. Make use of role sentences
A well-structured paragraph follows a logical flow, where each sentence has it’s own role:
- Context sentence (optional): Links back to information from the previous paragraph.
- Topic sentence: Provides the topic/argument for the current paragraph.
- Paragraph body (multiple sentences): Develops the topic with supporting details, evidence, or explanations.
- Concluding sentence: Summarises the paragraph or connects it to the next idea.
2. Use signposting to link sentences
Use signposting, or linking words, to explain your reasoning to the reader. For example:
❌ X is a common method in ecology. Y has also been used. Z is not well studied.
✅ X is a common method in ecology. In contrast, Y has been used less frequently. However, Z is not well studied.
| Function | Signposting words and phrases |
|---|---|
| 🧩adding | and, also, furthermore, moreover, additionally |
| 🆚contrasting | but, however, on the other hand, although |
| 📚examples | for example, for instance, such as |
| 🎯concluding | therefore, thus, consequently, overall, hence |
| 🌟emphasising | importantly, notably, indeed |
| 🔢ordering | first, next, finally |
| 🔦clarifying | in other words, that is, specifically |
3. Use the old-to-new principle to create flow
In the old-to-new principle, you refer back to previously established concepts before introducing a new concepts. For example:
❌ Climate change affects plant phenology. Earlier flowering has been observed in many temperate species.
✅ Climate change affects plant phenology. This shift is evident in the earlier flowering observed in many temperate species.
Bonus tip: mix sentence lengths to create rhythm
Long sentences (>25 words) are difficult to understand, as your reader needs to hold a lot of information in their working memory. Mix long sentences with shorter ones to create a natural rhythm similar to a conversation. This is easier to comprehend (and more fun to read).