I haven't read Paul's article, but I have read George Orwell's Politics and the English Language, and one should always pay attention to his rule vi.
> On 28 Oct 2017, at 17:11, Igor PDML-StR <pdml...@komkon.org> wrote: > > > > Paul, > > Thank you for the detailed response. I've learned some interesting things > about NYT's style. > > My teachers/advisors (at all stages and levels) taught me that each paragraph > should contain one main thought/point. Then, if you were to write down those > main points, you get a reverse outline, which is a good tool for checking on > the coherence of the written communication (paper, thesis, ...) And that's > what I've been teaching my students in the communication courses. > > > I think I see the rational behind shorter paragraphs (in a way similar to > that for shorter sentences): they are usually simpler to read. But I'd say, > not at the expense of splitting the thought. But the same way as a long > sentence doesn't get just cut in parts, a paragraph doesn't get split up into > parts before the thought is completed. > > > And, I am failing to see the rational behind quotes being separate > paragraphs. Moreover, I am rather confused how that is supposed to work here: > the same direct quote is split into two parts between the last two > paragraphs. It is not that every sentence of the direct quote are in a > separate paragraph: Three sentences of that direct quote are split between > two paragraphs. > > Again, sorry, - I don't mean to start a debate here. Rather, I am just > explaining why I am still confused by NYT's style. > > Igor > > PS. This is not to undermine that the article is very interesting. > > > > Paul Stenquist Fri, 27 Oct 2017 18:57:51 -0700 wrote: > > Hi Igor, > > The Auto Alliance point regarding how long it would take to equip the fleet > is self refuting in that they said the same thing six years ago. More > importantly, I get only 900 words, so I have to pick my battles. > > > In regard to the paragraph breaks, the first is debatable but a split > decision in my view and the editors. The Times philosophy says short graphs > are better. > > The graphs toward the end of the story are mandated by an immutable Times > style rule: every direct quote is a separate graph. That is written in stone, > and it seems to have worked well for at least 50 years. > > Paul via phone > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
