Paragraphs and flow

This branch covers how readers follow connected sentences, divided by the source of coherence: paragraph organisation, continuity between sentences and context-dependent references. It leaves the construction of individual sentences and the organisation of a whole document to neighbouring branches.

• Paragraphs and examples — paragraph purpose and unity, topic sentences, supporting order, explanatory examples, revision, length and emphasis
• Backtracking and continuity between sentences — explicit references, sentence reduction, repeated terms, forecasting, backward references and connectors
• Deictic words: who we are, when now is, where here is — references to people, time, place and positions in a text whose meaning depends on context