# Do we talk in paragraphs?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 20, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636 "2008-08-20T03:34:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636/21 "2008-08-21T23:52:01Z")

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[QUOTE=twickster]  
I can understand how one might orally distinguish between words by careful enunciation, and between sentences with pauses. How you you, by voice alone, indicate a break between “paragraphs”?  
[/QUOTE]

A subtle change of subject, or a pause longer than just a breath or two. A concise argument that has many angles to it. Lots of ways, really. Written paragraphs aren’t there to make things easy to read; they represent a focus on a particular angle of a topic.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636/22 "2008-08-22T00:13:47Z")

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I was listening to a bunch of fat, bearded guys talking about Harleys today at lunch.  
I listened closely, and they were definately using paragraphs.

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636/23 "2008-08-22T01:45:07Z")

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[QUOTE=mangeorge]  
I was listening to a bunch of fat, bearded guys talking about Harleys today at lunch.  
I listened closely, and they were definately using paragraphs.  
[/QUOTE]

Did you tell them that?

-FrL-

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636/24 "2008-08-22T02:54:55Z")

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[QUOTE=Frylock]  
Did you tell them that?

-FrL-  
[/QUOTE]

No. I was discrete in my observations. They already scowl at me for laughing at them.  
😛

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**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-talk-in-paragraphs/460636/25 "2008-08-22T13:00:10Z")

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[QUOTE=twickster]  
I can understand how one might orally distinguish between words by careful enunciation, and between sentences with pauses. How you you, by voice alone, indicate a break between “paragraphs”?  
[/QUOTE]

I was conversing with my gf last night over dinner. Breaks between paragraphs were indicated by the chewing of food. 😃

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