how many paragraphs in 4 page essay

The Length, Tips, and Steps for writing a 3/4 Page Essay or Paper

High school, college, and university life is rife with writing essays and research papers. In some cases, you will encounter as long as over 10-15-page research paper assignments. And as you might have also noticed, most professors, instructors, and teaching assistants like assigning short papers or essays below ten pages: mostly 3-8 pages long.

A commonly assigned paper is a 3-4-page essay, which falls under the short essays or paper category. We often find questions like “how many paragraphs or how long is a 3-4-page paper?” “What should I include in a 3-4-page paper to get the highest score?” or even “does a 3-4-page paper have an introduction and conclusion?”

If you are among those who often worry about what to include in a three or 4-page paper, this guide speaks directly to you. In a few minutes, you will be a pro at writing a 3 to 4-page essay. Better still, we have included topics and tips to help you ace your essay assignment without worrying whether you overwrote or underwrote your essay.

But before we even delve deeper, if you are running short of time and patience and need a custom-written essay that is 100% original, well-researched, cited, and proofread, do not hesitate to hire an essay writer on our website.

Let’s get started with exploring more about a 3-4-page paper.

What is a 3-4-page Paper or Essay?

As challenging as most students find essay writing, it comes with the gift you will carry through your professional life to your grave. Writing an essay demonstrates that you can comprehensively research, organize, and present facts on a given topic. It is a way of expressing yourself.

Many students, mostly our clients, often wonder what makes a 3 to 4-page essay and are afraid to ask an instructor. The instructor expects that you understand the limits and tests whether you can take instructions on not by looking at the length of your essay apart from the coherence of the content.

A 3-4-page paper is around 825-1200 words long with 4-5 points well-argued and organized in paragraphs, including the arguments and counterarguments. It is a complete essay with a title page, introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion paragraph, and reference list. The is typically longer than a typical 5-paragraph essay (250-550 words) and often has more points/paragraphs that are well-balanced, cited, and intertwined. It can be anything between 800 and 1200 words, meaning you can meet the lower threshold but cannot exceed the 1200-word limit.

If you are unsure about the exact word count for your paper, ask your instructor for clarification early enough.

When assigned to write a 3-4-page essay, you can either write a 3-full-page essay or a 4-full-page essay but do not exceed 4 pages or go below 3 pages.

A three-page paper is about 825-900 words long, while a four-page paper is about 1100 and 1200 words. This means that if you decide to meet the lower limit of 3 pages, you can write anything between 825 words and 900 words or even exceed through to any number of words up to 1200 words. Going beyond the word count can attract a deduction of grades, or your professor can mark until the word count is fulfilled, leaving out a potentially marks-rich section of your paper.

Given that a page has 3-4 paragraphs , a 3-page paper will have either 6 or 8 paragraphs, while a typical 4-page paper has 8 and 9 paragraphs, and a 3-4-page paper should have between 6 and 9 paragraphs.

How long it takes to complete a 3-4-page Essay or Paper?

We have mentioned that a 3-4-page essay has between 825 and 1200 words (double-spacing) and comprises 6-9 paragraphs. It is quite a short paper that requires a few hours to complete. Many factors contribute to how long it takes to complete an essay . Such factors include the deadline from class, your motivation, how well you understand the topic, availability of material, expertise in writing research papers and essays, organizational skills, typing speed, and many other factors.

You will most likely be assigned to write a 3-4-page paper in 1-2 days. However, you can complete your paper in a few hours if you plan your time well. For a professional, writing a 3-4 page essay can be done within an hour to three, especially if it is a last-minute writing help request .

A 3-4 double-spaced essay should take 3-4 hours to complete, assuming you write a page per hour. A professional would optimally require 2-3 hours to complete such an essay to the required standards. If it is a single-spaced essay, it will take between 6 hours and 8 hours to complete. The rationale here is that a single-spaced paper contains two double-spaced pages. You should take note of the spacing lest you miss the word count.

We’ve seen students coming to us for a last-minute request for us to fulfill their word count or paraphrase their essays to the right word count because they understood the word count at the last minute.

If you have a day to complete a 3-4 page essay, spend 3-4 hours planning and researching (prewriting process), 6-7 hours writing the essay, and 4-5 hours polishing, editing, and proofreading the essay. If you have two days, your prewriting process should take at least 5 hours, the writing process a day, and the post-writing stage should take at least 4-5 hours before submitting the essay.

Parts of a 3-4 Page Essay: The Structure

A 3-4-page essay or paper has the contents and structure of a typical essay. It comprises a title page formatted in APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago, the introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion paragraphs, and the reference list in the recommended referencing/formatting style. Let’s clarify the structure of a three- to four-page essay or paper.

• Title page. This is the first section of any academic paper and does not contribute to the word count. It should contain your details, details of the school, and information about your assignment, such as the title. Format it as required. It can be in APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Turabian, Oxford, or AGLC formatting, depending on what you have been advised to use or your subject.
• Introduction paragraph. This is the opening paragraph of your paper, and it should have an attention grabber or hook , background information, and the thesis statement . Sometimes, you can also use signposts in this section to let your readers know how your paper is organized.
• Body paragraphs. These are your essay's main paragraphs where you argue your thesis statement. Each body paragraph has a unique topic sentence followed by supporting details and a concluding sentence. Ensure that you stick to one idea per body paragraph. You should link the paragraphs using transition or linking words for a good flow. The body section comprises 80% of the word count.
• Conclusion paragraph. This is the last paragraph of your essay, making 10% of the word count and winding up the essay. You should restate your thesis .
• Reference list (works cited page or bibliography). Here is where you list all the scholarly resources you used in developing the essay. The reference list should be alphabetical as required by the formatting style you have chosen or have been directed to use.

When assigned to write an essay three or four pages long, ensure you have structured your paper as outlined above. Once you have broken down the paper and developed an essay outline , you can brainstorm ideas and write the paper fast.

Tips for Writing a 3/4 Page Essay Fast

In most cases, failing a 3-4-page essay with a 48-72-hour deadline is easier than failing a short or long paper with a longer deadline. Your mind technically sets to panic mode, especially if it is a paper that contributes most to your grades.

If you are assigned to write an essay that is three to four pages long, here are some tips to consider:

• Begin Early. You must begin the prewriting process after you are assigned the paper. You are still fresh with ideas from class and can brainstorm ideas without the fatigue of research and distractions.
• Choose a topic you can explore. If you are left to choose a topic on your own, go for an exciting topic you can spend time researching and sharing with anyone without limitations. Also, consider a topic with supporting materials such as books, peer-reviewed journals, and other scholarly resources.
• Schedule time and focus. You need to concentrate on your paper; the only best way could be to create a schedule. Decide on what you will do, in what order, and within a specific duration. When scheduling, remember to factor in writing and research when you are alert and active. You can do this early in the morning if you are an early riser or late into the night if you are a night owl. Besides, ensure that you reduce any distractions around you. Don’t log into social media, play games, or chat with friends until you finish the paper. You can listen to cool music and find the best place to do your assignment .
• Brainstorm and Research Widely. Using references, you will present ideas on a topic and need to support your assertions, claims, and arguments. Therefore, you need to brainstorm good ideas to make your paper weighty. Brainstorming helps you save time and write consistently because you develop the bigger picture. As you brainstorm, draw mind maps, concept maps, or flow charts to help you arrange ideas. You can then research and organize your resources before you begin writing. It is best to start by reading the non-scholarly sources to familiarize yourself with the topic before extending to the scholarly sources you can get points to use and cite in your 3-4-page paper. The research should yield enough to develop a preliminary thesis.
• Write first and edit later. The process will be manageable when writing the paper, courtesy of the previous steps. Assuming you have an outline, compartmentalize the information from the research and develop your paragraphs. Write the body paragraphs first, the introduction second, and the conclusion last, or choose whatever order you wish. Ensure that the body has 6-7 supporting ideas in its paragraphs. The body paragraphs should have a balanced length and must flow into one another. If you need to polish your preliminary thesis into a final one, do so after writing the body paragraphs because it should be the anchor.
• Polish the essay last. We said you leave editing and polishing for later. Well, take a break after writing to develop an objective mindset and break away from the monotony of writing. Check your paper for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. If there are any errors, strive to remove them. You can run the paper through editing software like Grammarly or Hemmingway Editor to spot and correct errors and omissions. Format the paper in APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago format. Ensure that you do a quick proofreading. If possible, read it aloud to yourself to spot more mistakes and make amendments.

Our writers use these tips when writing papers for our esteemed clients. We are a leading fast essay writing service catering to your urgent writing needs. The more you use these tips, the more you become great at writing essays. You can never hate writing essays once you master the entire process.

Topics for 3-4 page Essays that You Can Consider

Consider the topics outlined below if you want a quick topic for a three-page or four-page essay.

• The impacts of cryptocurrencies on cybersecurity
• Impacts of youth unemployment on teenage pregnancies
• Importance of being honest
• Private prison systems
• Benefits of the electoral college
• Importance of global peace on development
• Benefits of flexible working arrangements
• Importance of school uniforms
• How workforce diversity affects organizational Performance
• How to address work stress?
• Benefits of training police officers on computers
• Strategies to support homeless people
• Benefits of investing in books
• Children should be taught about investments and personal finance
• Negative impacts of helicopter parenting
• How to address mental health issues among school-going girls
• Social media and academic performance
• Benefits of pursuing STEM subjects
• Impacts of GMOs on food security
• Strategies to overcome homesickness
• How to overcome culture shock?
• Consumerism pollutes the planet
• Talks are better than Wars: Russia-Ukraine Conflict
• Causes and consequences of infidelity
• How to maintain a long-distance relationship?
• Overcoming low self-esteem
• Homelessness and unemployment
• Physical activity and obesity
• Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
• Consequences of Bulimia
• Portion control and weight loss
• Benefits of restriction what we eat
• Is gut instinct always correct?
• Disadvantages of birth control
• Should abandoned kids be adopted?
• Causes and consequences of police brutality
• Benefits of being earnest
• How to manage time as a student?
• Ways to pay for tuition without a loan
• Can someone learn programming on their own?
• Reasons to ban animal testing
• People should not be forced to get a vaccination
• How marketers influence what we eat
• Is Big Pharma controlling our lives?
• Causes and consequences of corruption
• Impacts of racism
• Causes and consequences of hate crimes
• Recycling should be compulsory
• Citizens should not be allowed to carry guns
• Consequences of white privilege
• Pros and cons of online retail
• Mobile phones and surveillance
• Impacts of state surveillance on citizens
• Should students be taught about taxation?
• How to prevent ocean pollution?
• Benefits of conserving endangered species
• Causes of increasing divorce rates
• Impacts of violent TV programs and games on the youth
• How family values influence how a child grows
• Impacts of stem cell research on chronic diseases
• The American Judiciary System
• Causes of the Russian-Ukraine war
• How to prevent drug trafficking?
• How human trafficking affects families
• Prostitution should be legalized
• Is microchipping a pet illegal?
• Benefits of keeping pets
• Consequences of the digital divide
• Should college education be free?
• Should students be forgiven their education loans?

There are many more essay topics that you can consider. Check out our list of compare and contrast topics , topics for learning disabilities , nutrition essay topics , social issues, and topics , or argumentative essay topics . Our blog section has an endless list of good topics you can write your 3/4-page essay about. If you need help writing your essay, ask for help from our website.

Parting Words

Writing a three to four-page paper or essay is not without any challenges. Students often find such papers challenging, especially if they do not know the word count and page limits to meet.

If you are working against a deadline, you can now write the paper thanks to the steps, tips, and insights we have shared above. Instead of procrastinating or missing a deadline, plan early, schedule everything, and write the paper without pressure.

To write a 3/4–page paper faster, ensure that you plan everything. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to place an order by visiting our homepage and filling out the order form. With our writing service, you can beat deadlines and produce an excellent paper with suitable marks or higher grades.

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

4 Page Essay: Examples, Topics, & Word Count

What does a four page essay look like? If you’re searching for an answer to this question, you’re in the right place! Such a paper is a standard high school and college assignment. That’s why it might be written on almost any topic. Police brutality, the Holocaust, overpopulation, and religion are just some examples.

A 4 page essay word count is usually 950 to 1000 words (12 pt., double-spaced). The length of a typical academic paragraph is 100 to 150 words. So, there are 6 to 10 paragraphs in a four page essay.

If you need 4 page essay examples, take a look at the list below. We’ve collected A+ samples for you to get inspired. Good luck with your essay!

4-page Essay Examples: 19282 Samples

Art history: female figures in ancient greek sculpture.

• Subjects: Art Sculpture
• Words: 1031

Patricia and Her Family

• Subjects: Psychological Issues Psychology
• Words: 1158

Studying and Practicing – The Best Ways to Learn?

• Subjects: Approach to Learning Education
• Words: 1114

The City of Khor Fakkan: History and Tourism

• Subjects: Countries Studies Sciences
• Words: 1088

Google in the 21st Century: Why it remains A Market Leader

• Subjects: Business Company Analysis
• Words: 1258

Influences Of An Adopted Child’s Behavior

• Subjects: Behavior Psychology
• Words: 1272

Gang Violence: Discussing the Problem of Gang Membership

• Subjects: Criminal Law Law
• Words: 1225

Concepts of Environmental Protection Legislation

• Subjects: Environmental Law Law
• Words: 2416

Democratic and Undemocratic Elements of the Constitution

• Subjects: Government Politics & Government
• Words: 1573

Gilgamesh: Significance of the Literature of That Period of Time

• Subjects: Art Film Studies
• Words: 1168

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair: An Allegory of the 19th-Century America

• Subjects: American Literature Literature
• Words: 1434

Types, Causes and Theories of the Psychiatric Disorders

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Psychiatry
• Words: 1360

Global Warming: Accumulation of Greenhouse Gases

• Subjects: Environment Global Warming
• Words: 1160

Citizen Participation and Political Process

• Words: 1117

Amazon Company Analysis

• Words: 1146

“On Killing” by Dave Grossman

• Subjects: Literature World Literature
• Words: 1153

Who is a Leader?

• Subjects: Business Management
• Words: 1409

The Communist Manifesto: the Statement of Germany Revolutionary Group

• Subjects: Politics & Government Social & Political Theory
• Words: 1239

Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed and My Personal Role in the World

• Subjects: Historical Literature Literature
• Words: 1111

Situational Leadership Theory & Path-Goal Leadership Theory

• Words: 1092

Essay about Exercise – Benefits

• Subjects: Fitness Sports
• Words: 1188

Transformational and Transactional Leadership

• Words: 1358

Why Is Bilingual Education Important

• Words: 1778

Psychodynamic Approach Survey

• Subjects: Applications of Psychology Psychology
• Words: 1154

Trading Symbol From NYSE

How ptsd affects veteran soldiers’ families.

• Subjects: Sociological Theories Sociology
• Words: 1170

Racial and Ethnic Inequality

• Words: 1187

Comparison of Night by Elie Weisel and Cry of the Beloved Country by Paton

• Subjects: Historical Fiction Comparison Literature
• Words: 1121

Different Cultures in Tito’s Good Buy and in the Land of Free

• Subjects: Comparative Literature Literature
• Words: 1370

Impact of illegal immigrants on America

• Subjects: Immigration Sociology
• Words: 1166

Supply Chain Management as an Indispensable Business Component

• Subjects: Business Logistics
• Words: 1083

Royal Dutch Shell

The japanese culture of ukiyo-e and ikebana.

• Subjects: Cultural Studies Culture
• Words: 1226

Reading Incentive Program from a Goal Orientation Perspective

• Subjects: Education Education Theories
• Words: 1104

Paragraphs’ Analysis of Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin

• Words: 1093

Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution

• Subjects: Historical Figures History
• Words: 1531

Mental Process: Creative Intelligence Styles

• Words: 1374

Process Improvements in Operations

• Words: 1173

Critical Thinking and What Really Constitutes Critical Thinking

• Words: 1098

Investigation of One of the States of the United States. -Iowa

• Words: 1169

Black Americans in the Revolutionary Era

• Subjects: African American Studies History
• Words: 1184

Punctuality at Work: Examples & Analysis

• Words: 1224

Threat to Biodiversity Is Just as Important as Climate Change

• Subjects: Environment Environmental Studies
• Words: 1100

Case Management for Breast Cancer Patients

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Oncology
• Words: 1174

The Major Point in Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

• Subjects: History United States
• Words: 1131

Mergers & Acquisitions in the Telecommunication Industry

• Words: 1313

Politics of Globalization in Taiwan

• Subjects: Economics Globalization

American History During the Colonial Times

• Words: 1126

Lauren Kessler: Immigrant Identity in “The Stubborn Twig”

• Words: 1376

Facebook Pages and Local Saudi Car Dealerships

• Subjects: Advertising Entertainment & Media
• Words: 1229

Gun Control in the USA

• Words: 1262

The Year 1000’ by Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger

• Subjects: History Medieval History
• Words: 1128

Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

• Words: 1164

Thanksgiving vs. Christmas

• Subjects: Sociological Issues Sociology
• Words: 1075

Club IT’s Data Management

• Subjects: Data Tech & Engineering

Renato Poggioli: The Concept of a Movement: The Theory of the Avant-Garde

• Subjects: Literature World Philosophy Literature

Filippo Marinetti’s Futurist Manifesto

• Subjects: Art Art Movement

Infernal Affairs: High Concept in Hong Kong

• Words: 1215

Grades as Valid Measures of Academic Achievement of Classroom Learning

• Words: 1122

Profile of Mike’s Express Car Wash Success

• Subjects: Business Company Information
• Words: 1192

Form Follows Function: Relationship between Form and Structure

• Subjects: Design Worldwide Architecture
• Words: 1097

Multiculturalism and “White Anxiety”

• Subjects: Racism Sociology
• Words: 1102

Native Americans: The Sad Aftereffect of Decentering

• Subjects: History Native Americans History
• Words: 1411

The Culture of Okinawan Music

• Subjects: Art Music Genre
• Words: 1137

Concepts of Corruption as Threat of Security

• Words: 1185

The Holocaust: A German Historian Examines the Genocide

• Subjects: Nazi Germany Warfare

Summary of Chapters on Music

• Subjects: Art Music
• Words: 1208

Gender Stereotypes on Television

• Subjects: Gender Studies Sociology
• Words: 1119

The Knights Templar: The Warrior Monks

• Words: 1106

Nature of Taboo Words

• Subjects: Linguistics Stylistics

Fitzgerald’s American Dream in The Great Gatsby & Winter Dreams

• Words: 1140

Multicultural Psychology as a Subspecialty of Psychology

• Subjects: Psychology Social Psychology Deviations
• Words: 1056

Rio Bravo: A Western With Deep Relationship Insight

Car pollution in moscow.

• Subjects: Ecology Environment
• Words: 1156

Psychological Development: Racism, Affirmative Action and Health Care

• Words: 1280

Music in Corporate America

• Subjects: Entertainment & Media Theories of Advertising
• Words: 1233

The Newtown School Negotiations

• Subjects: Education Education Issues
• Words: 1201

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

• Subjects: International Organizations Politics & Government
• Words: 2321

Policing the Drug Problem in United States

• Words: 1176

Arizona Immigration Law: What For?

• Words: 1107

Communication Skills and Technologies

• Subjects: Communications Sociology
• Words: 1212

Conflict of Generations in Smoke Signals and “Two Kinds”

• Subjects: Family Drama Literature
• Words: 1186

Legal Aspects in Professional Psychology

• Subjects: Professional Psychology Psychology
• Words: 1223

Informative Synthesis on Movie: The Crucible

• Words: 1113

Murder in the Cathedral: The Constant Battle Between the Two Antipodes

• Subjects: British Literature Literature
• Words: 1197

Arguments Against California’s Proposition 8

Masjid – i – nuh gunbad at balkh. history, desoghn and architecture., should juveniles be tried as adults.

• Subjects: Judicial Process on Criminals Law

Women and Beauty

• Words: 1328

What Every Business Graduate Should Know Before Entering the Business World

• Subjects: Business Business Communication
• Words: 1612

Citizen Engagement in Community Policing

• Subjects: Law Enforcement Politics & Government
• Words: 1325

Database Application at Amazon

The life and history of a. philip randolph.

• Subjects: Civil Rights Activists History
• Words: 1269

Critique of a Peer-Reviewed Article by Taylor and Abasi

• Subjects: Education Writing & Assignments
• Words: 1172

Ancient Works of Literature

• Subjects: Literature Mythology
• Words: 1366

Importance of Berlin in Cold War

• Subjects: History Western Europe
• Words: 1161

Organising A New Year Party

• Subjects: Entertainment & Media Events
• Words: 1385

The Life of a Human Being in C. S Lewis “The Great Divorce” and “Man’s Search for Meaning” a Book by Victor Frankl

• Words: 1109

Club IT’s Supply Chain Management

• Subjects: Business Case Study

The Effects of the Media on Creativity and Self-Esteem

• Subjects: Cognition and Perception Psychology

Charlotte Perkins Gilman Life and Bibliography

• Subjects: History Women Studies

Ethical theories

• Subjects: Business Business Ethics

Industrialization After the Civil War

Histrionic personality disorder.

• Words: 1130

Artistic Renaissance Humanism

Dialogue over the interfaith christian and buddhist perspectives.

• Subjects: Religion Religion Theories
• Words: 1143

How meth affects women and their children

• Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Research
• Words: 2001

Child Marriages in Modern India

Why it is safe to say that northrop’s book exposes the roots of racism in america.

• Subjects: History Racism in USA

Two Ethical Cases and Their Implications

Social theories of crime in explaining gang violence.

• Words: 1278

The battle of Normandy

• Subjects: Warfare World War II
• Words: 1507

Eleanor Roosevelt and Her Humanitarian Activity

American government, balancing democracy and rights.

• Words: 1419

Sexual Development and Orientation Paper

• Subjects: Development Psychology
• Words: 1103

A Pair of Silk Stockings Analysis – Literary Devices

The genesis fitness club, case studies in forensics.

• Subjects: Business Company Missions
• Words: 1087

Least Developed Countries

• Subjects: International Relations Politics & Government

Abigail Adams in American Revolution

• Words: 1238

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

How Many Paragraphs Should an Essay Have?

• 6-minute read
• 19th May 2023

You have an essay to write. You’ve researched the topic and crafted a strong thesis statement . Now it’s time to open the laptop and start tapping away on the keyboard. You know the required word count, but you’re unsure of one thing: How many paragraphs should you have in the essay? Gee, it would’ve been nice if your professor had specified that, huh?

No worries, friend, because in this post, we’ll provide a guide to how many paragraphs an essay should have . Generally, the number of paragraphs will depend on how many words and how many supporting details you need (more on that later). We’ll also explore the concept of paragraphs if you’re wondering what they’re all about. And remember, paragraphs serve a purpose. You can’t submit an essay without using them!

What Is a Paragraph?

You likely know what a paragraph is, but can you define it properly in plain English? Don’t feel bad if that question made you shake your head. Off the top of our heads, many of us can’t explain what a paragraph is .

A paragraph comprises at least five sentences about a particular topic. A paragraph must begin with a well-crafted topic sentence , which is then followed by ideas that support that sentence. To move the essay forward, the paragraph should flow well, and the sentences should be relevant.

Why Are Paragraphs Important?

Paragraphs expand on points you make about a topic, painting a vivid picture for the reader. Paragraphs break down information into chunks, which are easier to read than one giant, uninterrupted body of text. If your essay doesn’t use paragraphs, it likely won’t earn a good grade!

 How Many Paragraphs Are in an Essay?

As mentioned, the number of paragraphs will depend on the word count and the quantity of supporting ideas required. However, if you have to write at least 1,000 words, you should aim for at least five paragraphs. Every essay should have an introduction and a conclusion. The reader needs to get a basic introduction to the topic and understand your thesis statement. They must also see key takeaway points at the end of the essay.

As a rule, a five-paragraph essay would look like this:

• Introduction (with thesis statement)
• Main idea 1 (with supporting details)
• Main idea 2 (with supporting details)
• Main idea 3 (with supporting details)

Your supporting details should include material (such as quotations or facts) from credible sources when writing the main idea paragraphs.

If you think your essay could benefit from having more than five paragraphs, add them! Just make sure they’re relevant to the topic.

Professors don’t care so much about the number of paragraphs; they want you to satisfy the minimum word requirement. Assignment rubrics rarely state the number of required paragraphs. It will be up to you to decide how many to write, and we urge you to research the assigned topic before writing the essay. Your main ideas from the research will generate most of the paragraphs.

When Should I Start a New Paragraph?

Surprisingly, some students aren’t aware that they should break up some of the paragraphs in their essays . You need to start new paragraphs to keep your reader engaged.

As well as starting a new paragraph after the introduction and another for the conclusion, you should do so when you’re introducing a new idea or presenting contrasting information.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Starting a paragraph often involves using transitional words or phrases to signal to the reader that you’re presenting a new idea. Failing to use these cues may cause confusion for the reader and undermine your essay’s coherence.

Let’s consider examples of transitional words and phrases in action in a conclusion. Note that the essay is about too much mobile device screen time and that transitional words and phrases can occur later in a paragraph too:

Thanks to “In conclusion” and “Additionally,” the reader clearly knows that they are now in the conclusion stage. They can also follow the logic and development of the essay more easily.

How Do I Know Whether I Have Enough Paragraphs?

While no magic number exists for how many paragraphs you need, you should know when you have enough to satisfy the requirements of the assignment. It helps if you can answer yes to the following questions:

• Does my essay have both an introduction and a conclusion?
• Have I provided enough main ideas with supporting details, including quotes and cited information?
• Does my essay develop the thesis statement?
• Does my essay adequately inform the reader about the topic?
• Have I provided at least one takeaway for the reader?

 Conclusion

Professors aren’t necessarily looking for a specific number of paragraphs in an essay; it’s the word count that matters. You should see the word count as a guide for a suitable number of paragraphs. As a rule, five paragraphs should suffice for a 1,000-word essay. As long as you have an introduction and a conclusion and provide enough supporting details for the main ideas in your body paragraphs, you should be good to go.

Remember to start a new paragraph when introducing new ideas or presenting contrasting information. Your reader needs to be able to follow the essay throughout, and a single, unbroken block of text would be difficult to read. Transitional words and phrases help start new paragraphs, so don’t forget to use them!

As with any writing, we always recommend proofreading your essay after you’ve finished it. This step will help to detect typos, extra spacing, and grammatical errors. A second pair of eyes is always useful, so we recommend asking our proofreading experts to review your essay . They’ll correct your grammar, ensure perfect spelling, and offer suggestions to improve your essay. You can even submit a 500-word document for free!

1. What is a paragraph and what is its purpose?

A paragraph is a group of sentences that expand on a single idea. The purpose of a paragraph is to introduce an idea and then develop it with supporting details.

2. What are the benefits of paragraphs?

Paragraphs make your essay easy to read by providing structure and flow. They let you transition from one idea to another. New paragraphs allow you to tell your reader that you’ve covered one point and are moving on to the next.

3. How many paragraphs does a typical essay have?

An essay of at least 1,000 words usually has five paragraphs. It’s best to use the required word count as a guide to the number of paragraphs you’ll need.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

3-minute read

How to Insert a Text Box in a Google Doc

Google Docs is a powerful collaborative tool, and mastering its features can significantly enhance your...

2-minute read

How to Cite the CDC in APA

If you’re writing about health issues, you might need to reference the Centers for Disease...

5-minute read

Six Product Description Generator Tools for Your Product Copy

Introduction If you’re involved with ecommerce, you’re likely familiar with the often painstaking process of...

What Is a Content Editor?

Are you interested in learning more about the role of a content editor and the...

4-minute read

The Benefits of Using an Online Proofreading Service

Proofreading is important to ensure your writing is clear and concise for your readers. Whether...

6 Online AI Presentation Maker Tools

Creating presentations can be time-consuming and frustrating. Trying to construct a visually appealing and informative...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

How Many Paragraphs Are There In An Essay?

• How Many Paragraphs?
• Five-Paragraph Essay
• Types Of Five-Paragraph Essays
• Best Practices For Five-Paragraph Essays
• Three-Paragraph Essay
• Types Of Three-Paragraph Essays
• Best Practices For Three-Paragraph Essays

So you need to write an essay. You’ve picked out your topic, determined your thesis, and now you’re ready to put pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard) to start writing your epic piece. Before you get rolling, there’s only one thing left to decide: how many paragraphs does this essay actually need?

Unless you’re working under a strict assignment, essays can come in all shapes and sizes. Choosing the right format can help you present your ideas in the clearest way possible and make your writing process even easier. Here are the most common formats to consider and what to know before you decide which one to choose.

How many paragraphs are in an essay?

There’s no hard and fast rule for deciding how many paragraphs an essay should have, but it’s important to know that a single paragraph is generally not considered an essay. Standard essays have a designated introduction and conclusion, along with supporting details. This means that even a short essay will still have about three paragraphs, and many have more.

Things to consider before you write an essay

Before you can decide how to divide the information, you need to consider a few things:

• What type of essay are you writing?
• How many supporting details do you need to share?
• Do you have enough information to write a three- to five-sentence paragraph for each supporting detail?
• Do you have a required word count?
• What will be the clearest format for the reader?

There are a lot of different kinds of essays you might be assigned. Generally, multi-paragraph essays are used to compare and contrast things, in persuasive writing, as a form of narrative writing, and for informative or researched essays. Most of these essays end up fitting nicely into one of two main categories:

The five-paragraph essay

Arguably the most common essay format is the standard five-paragraph essay. This essay devotes a paragraph each to the introduction, conclusion, and three different supporting details. Let’s break down what each of those sections includes.

Parts of a standard five-paragraph essay

1. Introduction

This part of the essay includes your thesis statement , introduces your reader to your topic or point of view, and lays out the main ideas of your following three body paragraphs. Generally, this paragraph is brief and intended to grab your reader’s attention.

2. Body paragraphs

A five-paragraph essay includes three body paragraphs. Each of these paragraphs should focus on one supporting detail that aligns with your thesis. They will begin with a topic sentence and share the relevant research, quotes, and anecdotes you’ve gathered.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion to a five-paragraph essay will restate your thesis, sum up your supporting details, and present the reader with one final takeaway from reading your piece.

Wondering what goes into nailing each of these categories? Here’s a sample five-paragraph essay outline and some examples to help you get started.

Which kinds of essays work best with five paragraphs?

Five-paragraph essays are best used to convey complex and detailed topics that require extra information, like:

Comparison essays

A five-paragraph essay allows you to devote one paragraph to each item you’re comparing, as well as include one paragraph on the similarities between the two things.

Argumentative essays

In the five-paragraph format, there is ample space to explore multiple sides of an argument and include plenty of supporting facts and research.

Informative essays

Complex topics are broken down in simple and intuitive ways when the information is spread across multiple paragraphs.

Make Your Writing Shine!

• By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy policies.
• Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Best practices for writing a five-paragraph essay

If you’re considering a five-paragraph format for your essay, remember:

• These essays must have a clear thesis and conclusion.
• Each body paragraph should contain a strong and complete supporting detail.
• Transition words are necessary to help the flow of the essay.
• These essays usually involve research.
• This is among the most organized ways to present complex topics.

The three-paragraph essay

Three-paragraph essays are shorter and more simplified than the standard five-paragraph essay. Typically, these essays include a conclusion, introduction, and only one body paragraph. This single body paragraph might focus on one supporting detail or it may include a comprehensive summary of a lot of supporting information.

Parts of a standard three-paragraph essay

The introduction to a three-paragraph essay typically includes a hook or attention-grabbing first sentence , followed by a summary of your supporting details and then your thesis. The thesis statement helps lead into the rest of your essay.

Refresh your memory on the different types of thesis statements to get your essay started!

2. Body paragraph

This is the one and only body paragraph in a three-paragraph essay, so it needs to be clear, concise, and as detailed as possible within the space constraints. The body paragraph should include a topic sentence, as well as any details or facts that underscore your thesis. It may focus on one element of your supporting argument or sum up several in brief, clear sentences that relate to the topic sentence.

3. Conclusion 

Much like in a five-paragraph essay, your conclusion is the place to restate your thesis, summarize the points you made in the body paragraph, and leave your reader with a final takeaway or call to action.

Which kinds of essays work best with three paragraphs?

For less complex topics, the three-paragraph essay provides enough space to thoughtfully explain a topic and provide additional information.

Narrative essays

Personal essays that don’t necessarily need multiple paragraphs of supporting information work well in this format.

For emerging writers, one body paragraph provides ample space to compare and contrast two items or ideas. Single sentences can be devoted to each comparison or similarity.

Best practices for writing a three-paragraph essay

If you’re considering a three-paragraph format for your essay, remember:

• Even short essays still need a clear thesis.
• Organize your body paragraph so your ideas are presented clearly.
• The introduction and conclusion should each be a separate paragraph.
• This format provides excellent practice for new writers.
• One body paragraph still leaves room for strong supporting information.

Avoid confusing sentences and write with clarity with these tips.

Ways To Say

Synonym of the day

• Have your assignments done by seasoned writers. 24/7
• Contact us:
• +1 (213) 221-0069
• [email protected]

What is a 3-4 Page Paper: How Long and how Many Paragraphs

What is considered 3-4 Page Paper

Most assignments are short papers or essays that do not go beyond a few pages. If you have an assignment, and you are wondering what is considered to be 3 or 4 pages, then worry not. In this detailed guide, we explain what a 3-4 page paper is. Also, how long it is in terms of words and paragraphs.

If by any chance you need specialized custom papers, let us know. You can get vetted essay writers for your assignments and papers.

In educational institutions, especially in institutions of higher learning, you may be given a task by your instructor to come up with a 3-4 page paper on a certain topic.

This can be challenging because the instructor has given you the mandate to create the paper. What the instructor expects to see is a complete 3-4 page paper. If you need such a paper done professionally, feel free to hire our essay writers.

We can Write your Papers! No Plagiarism

Get that A on your next essay assignment without the hassles. Any topic or subject. 100% Plagiarism-Free Essays.

What is Considered a 3-4 Page Paper?

Then, what is considered a 3-4 page paper? Well, it depends on several issues and factors.

However, if you are told to come up with a 3-4 page paper, ensure that the paper has a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 pages.

A 3-4 page paper is a paper that has enough context to argue 4 to 5 points in the paragraphs and present any opposing opinion.

It is a paper that has more issues than a typical 5-paragraph essay. The estimated length of a 3-4 page paper is around 1200 words and ten paragraphs. However, this depends on the instructions from your faculty.

This especially applies when the instructor specifies a 3-4 page paper.

If you decide to write below 4 pages, you should ensure that your paper is above 3 pages. If you decide to write a 4-page paper, it should not exceed 4 pages.

As aforementioned, several factors will influence the length of a 4-page paper. Those factors include line spacing, font size, margin size, and the space between paragraphs.

Though this is the case, the fact that you are required to come up with a 3-4 page paper excludes the need to consider those factors.

Just follow the specifications given by your instructor and ensure that the page count is reached. Also, such a paper should consist of paragraphs and headings.

Also Read : Risks of Using Free Essays: Why you should avoid them

How Long is a 3-Page Essay?

Now that we have discussed what is considered a 3-4 page paper, you may be wondering about the length of such a paper. Let us consider a three-page essay.

The things that are considered when determining the length of an essay, in this case, a three-page essay, include the word count per page, the size of the paragraph in terms of the word count, and the overall word count for the three-page essay.

Concerning the word count per page, most essays require a minimum of 275 words and a maximum of about 300 words.

This is the length of a page within a three-page essay. If you write the minimum number of words per page, your essay will be 825 words long.

If you go for the maximum word count per page, your three-page essay will be 900 words long.

Ideally, an essay should have between 3 and 4 paragraphs per page. The maximum word count per paragraph being 150 words.

Therefore, if you go for 3 paragraphs per page, your essay will be 9 paragraphs long. If your essay has 4 paragraphs per page, your 3-page essay will be 12 paragraphs long.

Custom Essay Writing Service by vetted writers

How many words is a 4-page paper.

A 4-page paper has between 1000 and 1200 words depending on the format used in your Word document.

A normal double-spaced paper with a standard 1-all margin will be around 1100 words in length for a 4-page paper. Also, You should note that paragraphs with more words and sentences will be larger, thus fewer on a page.

In cases where the teacher or lecturer has instructed you to come up with a three-page paper without specifying the required word count, then take the minimum word count for a 3-page paper to be 825.

If you are given the required word count, you will notice that your instructor will specify the number of words that may go beyond or fall below the required word count.

In such a case, adhere to the instructions and maintain a 3-4 paragraph. A minimum of 90 words and a maximum of 130 words per paragraph structure.

Also Read : 7 reasons why Writing is Important in College & in Life

How to Write a 3-4 Page Essay Fast, in an Hour

There are strategies or tips to help you write a 3-4 page essay fast within an hour. The first tip is to prepare yourself for the essay adequately. Preparing yourself ensures that your thoughts and content to be applied are organized and aligned for the essay.

You can achieve this by familiarizing yourself with the essay’s nature and memorizing the content you may use while writing the essay.

Once you have the essay topic, take a minimum of 10 minutes to understand the topic. Read and re-read the instructions and understand every detail. You will not go out of topic or produce irrelevant information.

When you fully understand the requirements, it is best to determine the type of essay to write. The types include argumentative, explanation, evaluative, or problem/solution essays.

The above process should not take more than 15 minutes. Once you have the necessary details, take 10 minutes to organize your essay.

This includes aligning your thoughts, coming up with relevant notes, and an appropriate outline (this is part of the sketch work) to organize your thought flow in terms of introduction, paragraphs, and conclusion.

Once your thoughts are in order and you have all the necessary details and tools to write the essay. Use the next 30 minutes to develop and write the entire essay.

You will realize that writing will be easier and faster because you will have the relevant content at your fingertips. The outline will act as a guideline.

Once you are done writing, take 5 minutes to proofread and edit your paper where applicable. This is a very important step because you will have an opportunity to correct any errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, and so on.

Also Read : Importance of School, Family and Community collaboration in education

How Long does it Take to Write a Double-Spaced 3-4 Page Paper?

As noted above, writing a 3-4 page essay within an hour is possible. All you need is proper planning and preparation before writing the essay and following the guidelines prescribed.

Therefore, a 3-4 double-spaced page paper should take between 1 and 1.5 hours to complete. However, in cases where you are required to edit the paper and sometimes shorten the paragraphs , the writing time may be longer.

However, if the paper is single-spaced, it means that the content required to complete it will be double the amount required to complete a double-spaced paper. Therefore, it would take twice the amount of time to complete a 3-4 page single-spaced paper.

Order an Excellent Essay today!

Let us help you get that A in your next assignment. Place your order today, and you will enjoy the benefits.

What Does a 3-4 Page Essay Look Like?

A 3-4 page essay has a particular structure that includes the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion.

 Ideally, the introduction should be a single paragraph meant to introduce the content discussed within the body paragraphs.

The last sentence of the introduction should contain a thesis statement that poses a question you intend to answer. Apart from that, such an essay does not use first or second-person language , such as ‘I’ or ‘You.’ Instead, it uses a third-person perspective.

The body paragraphs should be structured in such a way that they tackle a single or specific idea. This eliminates the possibility of confusing the readers. It allows the writer to dwell on an issue and discuss it fully.

It is important to note that every paragraph should have a topic sentence that connects it to the paper’s central theme or thesis. This ensures that no paragraph deviates from the topic.

The conclusion for a 3-4 page essay should also be made up of a single paragraph. Just like in writing a 5-paragraph essay , the conclusion for this type is done in just one normal paragraph of between 90 and 130 words.

In the concluding paragraph, it is imperative to restate the thesis statement, highlight the main points or issues discussed within the body, and offer recommendations or implications for your paper.

Also Read : How to Write an Extended Essay: from Outline to Conclusion

Examples of Thesis Statements that can Write a 3-4 Page Research Paper

• Topic: Public Libraries. Thesis statement: Public libraries are vital community resources, and local municipalities should fund them more.
• Topic: Workforce Diversity. Thesis statement: A diverse workforce within the workplace leads to more cooperation, better ideas, and increased empathy among workers with different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
• Topic: Importance of School Uniforms. Thesis statement: While school uniforms create additional costs for families, they decrease and even eliminate visual differences that portray income inequality among students, creating a more egalitarian school environment.

With over 10 years in academia and academic assistance, Alicia Smart is the epitome of excellence in the writing industry. She is our managing editor and is in charge of the writing operations at Grade Bees.

Related posts

Overcoming the feeling and fear of writing essays

Overcoming the Feeling and Fear of Writing Essays

Spaces between Paragraphs in an Essay

How Many Spaces between Paragraphs in an Essay

Double Space an Essay

Should You Double Space an Essay: When and When Not To

What this handout is about

This handout will help you understand how paragraphs are formed, how to develop stronger paragraphs, and how to completely and clearly express your ideas.

What is a paragraph?

Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers. Many students define paragraphs in terms of length: a paragraph is a group of at least five sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, etc. In reality, though, the unity and coherence of ideas among sentences is what constitutes a paragraph. A paragraph is defined as “a group of sentences or a single sentence that forms a unit” (Lunsford and Connors 116). Length and appearance do not determine whether a section in a paper is a paragraph. For instance, in some styles of writing, particularly journalistic styles, a paragraph can be just one sentence long. Ultimately, a paragraph is a sentence or group of sentences that support one main idea. In this handout, we will refer to this as the “controlling idea,” because it controls what happens in the rest of the paragraph.

How do I decide what to put in a paragraph?

Before you can begin to determine what the composition of a particular paragraph will be, you must first decide on an argument and a working thesis statement for your paper. What is the most important idea that you are trying to convey to your reader? The information in each paragraph must be related to that idea. In other words, your paragraphs should remind your reader that there is a recurrent relationship between your thesis and the information in each paragraph. A working thesis functions like a seed from which your paper, and your ideas, will grow. The whole process is an organic one—a natural progression from a seed to a full-blown paper where there are direct, familial relationships between all of the ideas in the paper.

The decision about what to put into your paragraphs begins with the germination of a seed of ideas; this “germination process” is better known as brainstorming . There are many techniques for brainstorming; whichever one you choose, this stage of paragraph development cannot be skipped. Building paragraphs can be like building a skyscraper: there must be a well-planned foundation that supports what you are building. Any cracks, inconsistencies, or other corruptions of the foundation can cause your whole paper to crumble.

So, let’s suppose that you have done some brainstorming to develop your thesis. What else should you keep in mind as you begin to create paragraphs? Every paragraph in a paper should be :

• Unified : All of the sentences in a single paragraph should be related to a single controlling idea (often expressed in the topic sentence of the paragraph).
• Clearly related to the thesis : The sentences should all refer to the central idea, or thesis, of the paper (Rosen and Behrens 119).
• Coherent : The sentences should be arranged in a logical manner and should follow a definite plan for development (Rosen and Behrens 119).
• Well-developed : Every idea discussed in the paragraph should be adequately explained and supported through evidence and details that work together to explain the paragraph’s controlling idea (Rosen and Behrens 119).

How do I organize a paragraph?

There are many different ways to organize a paragraph. The organization you choose will depend on the controlling idea of the paragraph. Below are a few possibilities for organization, with links to brief examples:

• Narration : Tell a story. Go chronologically, from start to finish. ( See an example. )
• Description : Provide specific details about what something looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels like. Organize spatially, in order of appearance, or by topic. ( See an example. )
• Process : Explain how something works, step by step. Perhaps follow a sequence—first, second, third. ( See an example. )
• Classification : Separate into groups or explain the various parts of a topic. ( See an example. )
• Illustration : Give examples and explain how those examples support your point. (See an example in the 5-step process below.)

Illustration paragraph: a 5-step example

From the list above, let’s choose “illustration” as our rhetorical purpose. We’ll walk through a 5-step process for building a paragraph that illustrates a point in an argument. For each step there is an explanation and example. Our example paragraph will be about human misconceptions of piranhas.

Step 1. Decide on a controlling idea and create a topic sentence

Paragraph development begins with the formulation of the controlling idea. This idea directs the paragraph’s development. Often, the controlling idea of a paragraph will appear in the form of a topic sentence. In some cases, you may need more than one sentence to express a paragraph’s controlling idea.

Controlling idea and topic sentence — Despite the fact that piranhas are relatively harmless, many people continue to believe the pervasive myth that piranhas are dangerous to humans.

Step 2. Elaborate on the controlling idea

Paragraph development continues with an elaboration on the controlling idea, perhaps with an explanation, implication, or statement about significance. Our example offers a possible explanation for the pervasiveness of the myth.

Elaboration — This impression of piranhas is exacerbated by their mischaracterization in popular media.

Step 3. Give an example (or multiple examples)

Paragraph development progresses with an example (or more) that illustrates the claims made in the previous sentences.

Example — For example, the promotional poster for the 1978 horror film Piranha features an oversized piranha poised to bite the leg of an unsuspecting woman.

Step 4. Explain the example(s)

The next movement in paragraph development is an explanation of each example and its relevance to the topic sentence. The explanation should demonstrate the value of the example as evidence to support the major claim, or focus, in your paragraph.

Continue the pattern of giving examples and explaining them until all points/examples that the writer deems necessary have been made and explained. NONE of your examples should be left unexplained. You might be able to explain the relationship between the example and the topic sentence in the same sentence which introduced the example. More often, however, you will need to explain that relationship in a separate sentence.

Explanation for example — Such a terrifying representation easily captures the imagination and promotes unnecessary fear.

Notice that the example and explanation steps of this 5-step process (steps 3 and 4) can be repeated as needed. The idea is that you continue to use this pattern until you have completely developed the main idea of the paragraph.

Step 5. Complete the paragraph’s idea or transition into the next paragraph

The final movement in paragraph development involves tying up the loose ends of the paragraph. At this point, you can remind your reader about the relevance of the information to the larger paper, or you can make a concluding point for this example. You might, however, simply transition to the next paragraph.

Sentences for completing a paragraph — While the trope of the man-eating piranhas lends excitement to the adventure stories, it bears little resemblance to the real-life piranha. By paying more attention to fact than fiction, humans may finally be able to let go of this inaccurate belief.

Finished paragraph

Despite the fact that piranhas are relatively harmless, many people continue to believe the pervasive myth that piranhas are dangerous to humans. This impression of piranhas is exacerbated by their mischaracterization in popular media. For example, the promotional poster for the 1978 horror film Piranha features an oversized piranha poised to bite the leg of an unsuspecting woman. Such a terrifying representation easily captures the imagination and promotes unnecessary fear. While the trope of the man-eating piranhas lends excitement to the adventure stories, it bears little resemblance to the real-life piranha. By paying more attention to fact than fiction, humans may finally be able to let go of this inaccurate belief.

Troubleshooting paragraphs

Problem: the paragraph has no topic sentence.

Imagine each paragraph as a sandwich. The real content of the sandwich—the meat or other filling—is in the middle. It includes all the evidence you need to make the point. But it gets kind of messy to eat a sandwich without any bread. Your readers don’t know what to do with all the evidence you’ve given them. So, the top slice of bread (the first sentence of the paragraph) explains the topic (or controlling idea) of the paragraph. And, the bottom slice (the last sentence of the paragraph) tells the reader how the paragraph relates to the broader argument. In the original and revised paragraphs below, notice how a topic sentence expressing the controlling idea tells the reader the point of all the evidence.

Original paragraph

Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

Revised paragraph

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

Once you have mastered the use of topic sentences, you may decide that the topic sentence for a particular paragraph really shouldn’t be the first sentence of the paragraph. This is fine—the topic sentence can actually go at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph; what’s important is that it is in there somewhere so that readers know what the main idea of the paragraph is and how it relates back to the thesis of your paper. Suppose that we wanted to start the piranha paragraph with a transition sentence—something that reminds the reader of what happened in the previous paragraph—rather than with the topic sentence. Let’s suppose that the previous paragraph was about all kinds of animals that people are afraid of, like sharks, snakes, and spiders. Our paragraph might look like this (the topic sentence is bold):

Like sharks, snakes, and spiders, piranhas are widely feared. Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless . Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

Problem: the paragraph has more than one controlling idea

If a paragraph has more than one main idea, consider eliminating sentences that relate to the second idea, or split the paragraph into two or more paragraphs, each with only one main idea. Watch our short video on reverse outlining to learn a quick way to test whether your paragraphs are unified. In the following paragraph, the final two sentences branch off into a different topic; so, the revised paragraph eliminates them and concludes with a sentence that reminds the reader of the paragraph’s main idea.

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. A number of South American groups eat piranhas. They fry or grill the fish and then serve them with coconut milk or tucupi, a sauce made from fermented manioc juices.

Problem: transitions are needed within the paragraph

You are probably familiar with the idea that transitions may be needed between paragraphs or sections in a paper (see our handout on transitions ). Sometimes they are also helpful within the body of a single paragraph. Within a paragraph, transitions are often single words or short phrases that help to establish relationships between ideas and to create a logical progression of those ideas in a paragraph. This is especially likely to be true within paragraphs that discuss multiple examples. Let’s take a look at a version of our piranha paragraph that uses transitions to orient the reader:

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, except in two main situations, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ instinct is to flee, not attack. But there are two situations in which a piranha bite is likely. The first is when a frightened piranha is lifted out of the water—for example, if it has been caught in a fishing net. The second is when the water level in pools where piranhas are living falls too low. A large number of fish may be trapped in a single pool, and if they are hungry, they may attack anything that enters the water.

In this example, you can see how the phrases “the first” and “the second” help the reader follow the organization of the ideas in the paragraph.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Lunsford, Andrea. 2008. The St. Martin’s Handbook: Annotated Instructor’s Edition , 6th ed. New York: St. Martin’s.

Rosen, Leonard J., and Laurence Behrens. 2003. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook , 5th ed. New York: Longman.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

11 Rules for Essay Paragraph Structure (with Examples)

How do you structure a paragraph in an essay?

If you’re like the majority of my students, you might be getting your basic essay paragraph structure wrong and getting lower grades than you could!

In this article, I outline the 11 key steps to writing a perfect paragraph. But, this isn’t your normal ‘how to write an essay’ article. Rather, I’ll try to give you some insight into exactly what teachers look out for when they’re grading essays and figuring out what grade to give them.

You can navigate each issue below, or scroll down to read them all:

1. Paragraphs must be at least four sentences long 2. But, at most seven sentences long 3. Your paragraph must be Left-Aligned 4. You need a topic sentence 5 . Next, you need an explanation sentence 6. You need to include an example 7. You need to include citations 8. All paragraphs need to be relevant to the marking criteria 9. Only include one key idea per paragraph 10. Keep sentences short 11. Keep quotes short

Paragraph structure is one of the most important elements of getting essay writing right .

As I cover in my Ultimate Guide to Writing an Essay Plan , paragraphs are the heart and soul of your essay.

However, I find most of my students have either:

• forgotten how to write paragraphs properly,
• gotten lazy, or
• never learned it in the first place!

Paragraphs in essay writing are different from paragraphs in other written genres .

In fact, the paragraphs that you are reading now would not help your grades in an essay.

That’s because I’m writing in journalistic style, where paragraph conventions are vastly different.

For those of you coming from journalism or creative writing, you might find you need to re-learn paragraph writing if you want to write well-structured essay paragraphs to get top grades.

Below are eleven reasons your paragraphs are losing marks, and what to do about it!

Essay Paragraph Structure Rules

1. your paragraphs must be at least 4 sentences long.

In journalism and blog writing, a one-sentence paragraph is great. It’s short, to-the-point, and helps guide your reader. For essay paragraph structure, one-sentence paragraphs suck.

A one-sentence essay paragraph sends an instant signal to your teacher that you don’t have much to say on an issue.

A short paragraph signifies that you know something – but not much about it. A one-sentence paragraph lacks detail, depth and insight.

Many students come to me and ask, “what does ‘add depth’ mean?” It’s one of the most common pieces of feedback you’ll see written on the margins of your essay.

Personally, I think ‘add depth’ is bad feedback because it’s a short and vague comment. But, here’s what it means: You’ve not explained your point enough!

If you’re writing one-, two- or three-sentence essay paragraphs, you’re costing yourself marks.

Always aim for at least four sentences per paragraph in your essays.

This doesn’t mean that you should add ‘fluff’ or ‘padding’ sentences.

Make sure you don’t:

a) repeat what you said in different words, or b) write something just because you need another sentence in there.

But, you need to do some research and find something insightful to add to that two-sentence paragraph if you want to ace your essay.

Check out Points 5 and 6 for some advice on what to add to that short paragraph to add ‘depth’ to your paragraph and start moving to the top of the class.

• How to Make an Essay Longer
• How to Make an Essay Shorter

2. Your Paragraphs must not be more than 7 Sentences Long

Okay, so I just told you to aim for at least four sentences per paragraph. So, what’s the longest your paragraph should be?

Seven sentences. That’s a maximum.

So, here’s the rule:

Between four and seven sentences is the sweet spot that you need to aim for in every single paragraph.

Here’s why your paragraphs shouldn’t be longer than seven sentences:

1. It shows you can organize your thoughts. You need to show your teacher that you’ve broken up your key ideas into manageable segments of text (see point 10)

2. It makes your work easier to read.   You need your writing to be easily readable to make it easy for your teacher to give you good grades. Make your essay easy to read and you’ll get higher marks every time.

One of the most important ways you can make your work easier to read is by writing paragraphs that are less than six sentences long.

3. It prevents teacher frustration. Teachers are just like you. When they see a big block of text their eyes glaze over. They get frustrated, lost, their mind wanders … and you lose marks.

To prevent teacher frustration, you need to ensure there’s plenty of white space in your essay. It’s about showing them that the piece is clearly structured into one key idea per ‘chunk’ of text.

Often, you might find that your writing contains tautologies and other turns of phrase that can be shortened for clarity.

3. Your Paragraph must be Left-Aligned

Turn off ‘Justified’ text and: Never. Turn. It. On. Again.

Justified text is where the words are stretched out to make the paragraph look like a square. It turns the writing into a block. Don’t do it. You will lose marks, I promise you! Win the psychological game with your teacher: left-align your text.

A good essay paragraph is never ‘justified’.

I’m going to repeat this, because it’s important: to prevent your essay from looking like a big block of muddy, hard-to-read text align your text to the left margin only.

You want white space on your page – and lots of it. White space helps your reader scan through your work. It also prevents it from looking like big blocks of text.

You want your reader reading vertically as much as possible: scanning, browsing, and quickly looking through for evidence you’ve engaged with the big ideas.

The justified text doesn’t help you do that. Justified text makes your writing look like a big, lumpy block of text that your reader doesn’t want to read.

What’s wrong with Center-Aligned Text?

While I’m at it, never, ever, center-align your text either. Center-aligned text is impossible to skim-read. Your teacher wants to be able to quickly scan down the left margin to get the headline information in your paragraph.

Not many people center-align text, but it’s worth repeating: never, ever center-align your essays.

Don’t annoy your reader. Left align your text.

4. Your paragraphs must have a Topic Sentence

The first sentence of an essay paragraph is called the topic sentence. This is one of the most important sentences in the correct essay paragraph structure style.

The topic sentence should convey exactly what key idea you’re going to cover in your paragraph.

Too often, students don’t let their reader know what the key idea of the paragraph is until several sentences in.

You must show what the paragraph is about in the first sentence.

You never, ever want to keep your reader in suspense. Essays are not like creative writing. Tell them straight away what the paragraph is about. In fact, if you can, do it in the first half of the first sentence .

I’ll remind you again: make it easy to grade your work. Your teacher is reading through your work trying to determine what grade to give you. They’re probably going to mark 20 assignments in one sitting. They have no interest in storytelling or creativity. They just want to know how much you know! State what the paragraph is about immediately and move on.

Suggested: Best Words to Start a Paragraph

Ideal Essay Paragraph Structure Example: Writing a Topic Sentence If your paragraph is about how climate change is endangering polar bears, say it immediately : “Climate change is endangering polar bears.” should be your first sentence in your paragraph. Take a look at first sentence of each of the four paragraphs above this one. You can see from the first sentence of each paragraph that the paragraphs discuss:

When editing your work, read each paragraph and try to distil what the one key idea is in your paragraph. Ensure that this key idea is mentioned in the first sentence .

(Note: if there’s more than one key idea in the paragraph, you may have a problem. See Point 9 below .)

The topic sentence is the most important sentence for getting your essay paragraph structure right. So, get your topic sentences right and you’re on the right track to a good essay paragraph.

5. You need an Explanation Sentence

All topic sentences need a follow-up explanation. The very first point on this page was that too often students write paragraphs that are too short. To add what is called ‘depth’ to a paragraph, you can come up with two types of follow-up sentences: explanations and examples.

Let’s take explanation sentences first.

Explanation sentences give additional detail. They often provide one of the following services:

Let’s go back to our example of a paragraph on Climate change endangering polar bears. If your topic sentence is “Climate change is endangering polar bears.”, then your follow-up explanation sentence is likely to explain how, why, where, or when. You could say:

Ideal Essay Paragraph Structure Example: Writing Explanation Sentences 1. How: “The warming atmosphere is melting the polar ice caps.” 2. Why: “The polar bears’ habitats are shrinking every single year.” 3. Where: “This is happening in the Antarctic ice caps near Greenland.” 4. When: “Scientists first noticed the ice caps were shrinking in 1978.”

You don’t have to provide all four of these options each time.

But, if you’re struggling to think of what to add to your paragraph to add depth, consider one of these four options for a good quality explanation sentence.

>>>RELATED ARTICLE: SHOULD YOU USE RHETORICAL QUESTIONS IN ESSAYS ?

6. Your need to Include an Example

Examples matter! They add detail. They also help to show that you genuinely understand the issue. They show that you don’t just understand a concept in the abstract; you also understand how things work in real life.

Example sentences have the added benefit of personalising an issue. For example, after saying “Polar bears’ habitats are shrinking”, you could note specific habitats, facts and figures, or even a specific story about a bear who was impacted.

Ideal Essay Paragraph Structure Example: Writing an ‘Example’ Sentence “For example, 770,000 square miles of Arctic Sea Ice has melted in the past four decades, leading Polar Bear populations to dwindle ( National Geographic, 2018 )

In fact, one of the most effective politicians of our times – Barrack Obama – was an expert at this technique. He would often provide examples of people who got sick because they didn’t have healthcare to sell Obamacare.

What effect did this have? It showed the real-world impact of his ideas. It humanised him, and got him elected president – twice!

Be like Obama. Provide examples. Often.

7. All Paragraphs need Citations

Provide a reference to an academic source in every single body paragraph in the essay. The only two paragraphs where you don’t need a reference is the introduction and conclusion .

Let me repeat: Paragraphs need at least one reference to a quality scholarly source .

Let me go even further:

Students who get the best marks provide two references to two different academic sources in every paragraph.

Two references in a paragraph show you’ve read widely, cross-checked your sources, and given the paragraph real thought.

It’s really important that these references link to academic sources, not random websites, blogs or YouTube videos. Check out our Seven Best types of Sources to Cite in Essays post to get advice on what sources to cite. Number 6 w ill surprise you!

Ideal Essay Paragraph Structure Example: In-Text Referencing in Paragraphs Usually, in-text referencing takes the format: (Author, YEAR), but check your school’s referencing formatting requirements carefully. The ‘Author’ section is the author’s last name only. Not their initials. Not their first name. Just their last name . My name is Chris Drew. First name Chris, last name Drew. If you were going to reference an academic article I wrote in 2019, you would reference it like this: (Drew, 2019).

Where do you place those two references?

Place the first reference at the end of the first half of the paragraph. Place the second reference at the end of the second half of the paragraph.

This spreads the references out and makes it look like all the points throughout the paragraph are backed up by your sources. The goal is to make it look like you’ve reference regularly when your teacher scans through your work.

Remember, teachers can look out for signposts that indicate you’ve followed academic conventions and mentioned the right key ideas.

Spreading your referencing through the paragraph helps to make it look like you’ve followed the academic convention of referencing sources regularly.

Here are some examples of how to reference twice in a paragraph:

• If your paragraph was six sentences long, you would place your first reference at the end of the third sentence and your second reference at the end of the sixth sentence.
• If your paragraph was five sentences long, I would recommend placing one at the end of the second sentence and one at the end of the fifth sentence.

You’ve just read one of the key secrets to winning top marks.

8. Every Paragraph must be relevant to the Marking Criteria

Every paragraph must win you marks. When you’re editing your work, check through the piece to see if every paragraph is relevant to the marking criteria.

For the British: In the British university system (I’m including Australia and New Zealand here – I’ve taught at universities in all three countries), you’ll usually have a ‘marking criteria’. It’s usually a list of between two and six key learning outcomes your teacher needs to use to come up with your score. Sometimes it’s called a:

• Marking criteria
• Marking rubric
• (Key) learning outcome
• Indicative content

Check your assignment guidance to see if this is present. If so, use this list of learning outcomes to guide what you write. If your paragraphs are irrelevant to these key points, delete the paragraph .

Paragraphs that don’t link to the marking criteria are pointless. They won’t win you marks.

For the Americans: If you don’t have a marking criteria / rubric / outcomes list, you’ll need to stick closely to the essay question or topic. This goes out to those of you in the North American system. North America (including USA and Canada here) is often less structured and the professor might just give you a topic to base your essay on.

If all you’ve got is the essay question / topic, go through each paragraph and make sure each paragraph is relevant to the topic.

For example, if your essay question / topic is on “The Effects of Climate Change on Polar Bears”,

• Don’t talk about anything that doesn’t have some connection to climate change and polar bears;
• Don’t talk about the environmental impact of oil spills in the Gulf of Carpentaria;
• Don’t talk about black bear habitats in British Columbia.
• Do talk about the effects of climate change on polar bears (and relevant related topics) in every single paragraph .

You may think ‘stay relevant’ is obvious advice, but at least 20% of all essays I mark go off on tangents and waste words.

Stay on topic in Every. Single. Paragraph. If you want to learn more about how to stay on topic, check out our essay planning guide .

9. Only have one Key Idea per Paragraph

One key idea for each paragraph. One key idea for each paragraph. One key idea for each paragraph.

Don’t forget!

Too often, a student starts a paragraph talking about one thing and ends it talking about something totally different. Don’t be that student.

To ensure you’re focussing on one key idea in your paragraph, make sure you know what that key idea is. It should be mentioned in your topic sentence (see Point 3 ). Every other sentence in the paragraph adds depth to that one key idea.

If you’ve got sentences in your paragraph that are not relevant to the key idea in the paragraph, they don’t fit. They belong in another paragraph.

Go through all your paragraphs when editing your work and check to see if you’ve veered away from your paragraph’s key idea. If so, you might have two or even three key ideas in the one paragraph.

You’re going to have to get those additional key ideas, rip them out, and give them paragraphs of their own.

If you have more than one key idea in a paragraph you will lose marks. I promise you that.

The paragraphs will be too hard to read, your reader will get bogged down reading rather than scanning, and you’ll have lost grades.

10. Keep Sentences Short

If a sentence is too long it gets confusing. When the sentence is confusing, your reader will stop reading your work. They will stop reading the paragraph and move to the next one. They’ll have given up on your paragraph.

Short, snappy sentences are best.

Shorter sentences are easier to read and they make more sense. Too often, students think they have to use big, long, academic words to get the best marks. Wrong. Aim for clarity in every sentence in the paragraph. Your teacher will thank you for it.

The students who get the best marks write clear, short sentences.

When editing your draft, go through your essay and see if you can shorten your longest five sentences.

(To learn more about how to write the best quality sentences, see our page on Seven ways to Write Amazing Sentences .)

11. Keep Quotes Short

Eighty percent of university teachers hate quotes. That’s not an official figure. It’s my guestimate based on my many interactions in faculty lounges. Twenty percent don’t mind them, but chances are your teacher is one of the eight out of ten who hate quotes.

Teachers tend to be turned off by quotes because it makes it look like you don’t know how to say something on your own words.

Now that I’ve warned you, here’s how to use quotes properly:

Ideal Essay Paragraph Structure Example: How To Use Quotes in University-Level Essay Paragraphs 1. Your quote should be less than one sentence long. 2. Your quote should be less than one sentence long. 3. You should never start a sentence with a quote. 4. You should never end a paragraph with a quote. 5 . You should never use more than five quotes per essay. 6. Your quote should never be longer than one line in a paragraph.

The minute your teacher sees that your quote takes up a large chunk of your paragraph, you’ll have lost marks.

Your teacher will circle the quote, write a snarky comment in the margin, and not even bother to give you points for the key idea in the paragraph.

Avoid quotes, but if you really want to use them, follow those five rules above.

I’ve also provided additional pages outlining Seven tips on how to use Quotes if you want to delve deeper into how, when and where to use quotes in essays. Be warned: quoting in essays is harder than you thought.

Follow the advice above and you’ll be well on your way to getting top marks at university.

Writing essay paragraphs that are well structured takes time and practice. Don’t be too hard on yourself and keep on trying!

Below is a summary of our 11 key mistakes for structuring essay paragraphs and tips on how to avoid them.

I’ve also provided an easy-to-share infographic below that you can share on your favorite social networking site. Please share it if this article has helped you out!

11 Biggest Essay Paragraph Structure Mistakes you’re probably Making

1.  Your paragraphs are too short 2.  Your paragraphs are too long 3.  Your paragraph alignment is ‘Justified’ 4.  Your paragraphs are missing a topic sentence 5 .  Your paragraphs are missing an explanation sentence 6.  Your paragraphs are missing an example 7.  Your paragraphs are missing references 8.  Your paragraphs are not relevant to the marking criteria 9.  You’re trying to fit too many ideas into the one paragraph 10.  Your sentences are too long 11.  Your quotes are too long

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is IQ? (Intelligence Quotient)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University

4 thoughts on “11 Rules for Essay Paragraph Structure (with Examples)”

Hello there. I noticed that throughout this article on Essay Writing, you keep on saying that the teacher won’t have time to go through the entire essay. Don’t you think this is a bit discouraging that with all the hard work and time put into your writing, to know that the teacher will not read through the entire paper?

Hi Clarence,

Thanks so much for your comment! I love to hear from readers on their thoughts.

Yes, I agree that it’s incredibly disheartening.

But, I also think students would appreciate hearing the truth.

Behind closed doors many / most university teachers are very open about the fact they ‘only have time to skim-read papers’. They regularly bring this up during heated faculty meetings about contract negotiations! I.e. in one university I worked at, we were allocated 45 minutes per 10,000 words – that’s just over 4 minutes per 1,000 word essay, and that’d include writing the feedback, too!

If students know the truth, they can better write their essays in a way that will get across the key points even from a ‘skim-read’.

I hope to write candidly on this website – i.e. some of this info will never be written on university blogs because universities want to hide these unfortunate truths from students.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Regards, Chris

This is wonderful and helpful, all I say is thank you very much. Because I learned a lot from this site, own by chris thank you Sir.

Thank you. This helped a lot.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Help Us Out

Login with your site account:

Create a site account:

Welcome to Words per Page

Enter total number of words, type in your words.

There are times when it helps to know how many words per page you're writing. While a general guideline is one page is 500 words (single spaced) or 250 words (double spaced), this is a ballpark figure. The truth is the number of words per page depends on a variety of factors such as the type of font, the font size, spacing elements, margin spacing, and paragraph length to name a few. While it's not possible to take into all these factors when estimating how many words per page there will be for your writing, this calculator can give a more accurate words per page conversion estimate than the typical 250/500 ballpark figure .

The calculator is able to provide a more accurate conversion by taking into account more specific information. For example, you can choose from a different variety of common fonts to generate an estimate:

• Comic Sans MS
• Times New Roman

You can then choose your preferred spacing from the following options:

• Single spaced
• Double spaced

Finally, you can choose your preferred font size: 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14.

By using these three options to more accurately define your writing, the words per page calculator should provide a better estimate on how many words you need to write to fill a page. In the opposite direction, it can give a more accurate estimate of how many pages you have created if you only know the word count .

While we make every attempt to make our calculators as accurate as possible, the results won't be perfect. This converter addresses some issues to provide a more accurate estimate, but in the end, it's still an estimate. Other issues such as margin space and paragraph length will likely result in some variation from the calculations given. That being said, it should provide a more accurate indication of the number of pages a specific word count will be and the number of words per page you type when compared to the general rule of thumb.

For general information, the following are calculations using 12-point Arial font, double spaced:

How many pages is 500 words? 500 words is approximately 1.8 pages. How many pages is 750 words? 750 words is approximately 2.7 pages. How many pages is 1,000 words? 1,000 words is approximately 3.7 pages. How many pages is 1,250 words? 1,250 words is approximately 4.6 pages. How many pages is 1,500 words? 1,500 words is approximately 5.5 pages. How many pages is 2,000 words? 2,000 words is approximately 7.3 pages. How many pages is 2,500 words? 2,500 words is approximately 9.1 pages. How many pages is 3,000 words? 3,000 words is approximately 11 pages. How many pages is 4,000 words? 4,000 words is approximately 14.6 pages. How many pages is 5,000 words? 5,000 words is approximately 18.3 pages. How many pages is 7,500 words? 7,500 words is approximately 27.4 pages. How many pages is 10,000 words? 10,000 words is approximately 36.5 pages.

How many words are in one page? There are approximately 450 words in one page. How many words are in two pages? There are approximately 900 words in two pages. How many words are in three pages? There are approximately 1350 words in three pages. How many words are in four pages? There are approximately 1800 words in four pages. How many words are in five pages? There are approximately 2250 words in five pages. How many words are in ten pages? There are approximately 4500 words in ten pages. How many words are in 15 pages? There are approximately 6750 words in 15 pages. How many words are in 25 pages? There are approximately 11250 words in 25 pages. How many words are in 50 pages? There are approximately 22500 words in 50 pages. How many words are in 100 pages? There are approximately 45000 words in 100 pages.

• Help WordCounter
• Embed WordCounter
• Report a Bug
• Privacy Policy

Found a Bug

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

Social Media

Facebook twitter.