Paragraphs and source attribution

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1. Version 1 · EnglishParagraphs and source attribution

   Published the complete translation with source attribution.

   6 Nov 2026
   Read this revision

   Paragraphs

   Principles

   • Each paragraph should have only one topic or one central sentence.
   • Put the central sentence at the beginning of the paragraph to summarize its content. The following sentences should support that central sentence.
   • A paragraph should not exceed seven lines. Ideally, it should be no longer than four lines.
   • Use declarative, affirmative sentences in paragraphs, and avoid exclamatory language.
   • Separate paragraphs with one blank line.
   • Do not indent the beginning of a paragraph with whitespace characters.

   Quotations

   Identify the source when quoting third-party content.

   One man’s constant is another man’s variable. — Alan Perlis
   

   When reproducing a complete article, identify its author and source prominently at the beginning and link to the original.

   This article is reproduced from WikiQuote.
   

   When using external images, identify their sources below the images or at the end of the article.

   Some images in this article come from Wikipedia.
   

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   Complete English translation of 段落, from Ruanyifeng's Chinese Technical Documentation Style Guide. The project's README dedicates the guide to the public domain. The original Chinese examples are translated into English; the Alan Perlis quotation is retained.

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