Using paragraphs appropriately in dissertations and essays 

Ideal length of a paragraph in academic writing

Imagine reading a document of about 5,000 words without any line breaks or paragraphs, but instead just a continuous flow of long sentences. You would probably soon lose interest in the document and would also find it difficult to understand the argument the writer is trying to develop.

This situation could be likened to attempting to untangle a knot. It is for this reason that a document is divided into paragraphs, with a line break between them, the first line indented, or both. Indeed, it is well-known that readers will respond better to shorter paragraphs and will understand the document more quickly.

Students often ask how long a paragraph should be. Although not all academic writing experts agree, the general guideline is that a paragraph should be between two or three sentences as a minimum and five or six sentences as a maximum. A paragraph should NOT consist of just one sentence.

In terms of words, experts have suggested that a paragraph should be between 100 and 200 words long. Some go on to assert that all paragraphs in a document should be of the same length, whilst others say this does not matter. Some would also argue that a short document needs short paragraphs and a long document needs long paragraphs. However, all of the above are guidelines only; in fact, there are no strict rules as to how long a paragraph should exactly be.

Content and structure of a paragraph

It is advisable, however, that irrespective of its length, each paragraph in an academic text, such as a master’s dissertation or PhD thesis, should focus on one particular topic or idea (or sub-idea). The opening sentence, also called the introduction or the topic sentence, should briefly but accurately establish the background to the topic. This naturally leads into the next few sentences which develop the topic in greater detail. This involves developing the argument by citing data and research in support of the ideas being presented.
It is essential to ensure that the topic has been adequately researched and that examples are given, as this convinces the reader that the writer’s argument is valid. Having fully supported and explained the topic, a final sentence is written as an end to the paragraph. This should be concise and provide an accurate conclusion regarding the overall argument that has been developed.

Thus, the contents of a paragraph can be summarised as: (1) introduce the topic; (2) develop and support the topic; and (3) write a final closing line. It is essential that the topic is focused upon throughout the paragraph and that the MA or PhD student does not wander from one idea to another as digression in academic writing is usually frowned upon. This also means that the conclusion should be naturally linked to the introduction. If the writer wishes to develop a new or different topic, this should be done in a new paragraph.

Reviewing and proofreading your paragraphs

Once the document has been written, it is a good idea to read it through in order to confirm that each paragraph is focused on one topic ‒ not multiple and different ideas. Although, as stated previously, there are no set rules regarding paragraph length, it can sometimes be obvious that a paragraph is too long or too short.

If it is too long, it could mean that the writer has presented multiple topics; the solution is to therefore divide the paragraph into two, with each one concentrating on a different topic. If a paragraph is too short, it could mean that the idea has been inadequately developed, in which case further research should be conducted to enable more text to be added. Finally, it is essential to abide by the house rules (if any), as some educational institutions or universities set their own rules for paragraph length. 

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