AIBU to think a paragraph can have only one sentence?

[EclecticShock]

AIBU to think a paragraph can have only one sentence and be grammatically correct. I'm doing an assignment for a degree and have been pulled up on it... I don't see the issue?

You're completely wrong

If its talking about something not related to the previous paragraph and to the next paragraph then there's nothing wrong with a one sentence paragraph. That's what I was taught anyway!

If a paragraph only had one sentence, it would be just that- a sentence.

A paragraph is a collection of related, grammatically correct, sentences.What you describe is just one long sentence.

YANBU. You're right. As long as a paragraph doesn't have zero sentences it's fine :o

Ah, reading your OP again-yes, it can have just one sentence if it is a stand alone statement.

Sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were asking if all paragraphs only had one sentence!

Most of Kathy Reichs books contain paragraphs of only one word

You mean it's possible for a paragraph to consist of one sentence only.

I first read your thread title to mean a paragraph can only have one sentence.

I can't see why not. If the sentence reflects a complete idea, then the next idea would be reflected in a new paragraph. You often see this in letters, for example, where the first paragraphs says "we are writing to you with regards to your accident on 1st July in which your car was damaged". New paragraph: " We have now..."

A one-sentence paragraph, particularly a short one, can be used to show that something is very important. It will stand out and appear to emphasise what is said.

rainyday is correct.
It doesn't matter whether the sentence is short or long. If it properly sits on its own, it can properly be a paragraph.

The weather here is sunny at the moment.

The sentence above has been placed in a separate paragraph because it doesn't relate to the paragraphs above or below. The break tells the reader that there is a new subject being discussed.

In an essay, I wouldn't do it.

In creative writing, it can work brilliantly. Occasionally Roald Dahl does it in 'Lamb to the Slaughter' with the wonderful

'A leg of lamb.'

Love it!

I don't want to sound patronising, but could it be that the marker means that you just haven't punctuated properly? I wrote on a student's essay yesterday 'This whole paragraph is one huge sentence!'. It should have been 3 or 4 - he'd just missed out all the full stops. I'm sure that isn't the case but just thought I'd mention it as a possibility.

I think I would just unconnect the single sentence and make it into two then everyone's happy

Well I have been writing in various forms for a long time now and I find using one sentence paragraphs can have more impact when used sparingly.

Do I approach my tutor about this? I'm not taking an English grammar degree either so I'm a bit annoyed that he has pulled me up on it, especially seeing as he said the content was good.

my understanding of what a paragraph is...is a number of sentences related to one another directly...may have 2/3 sentences but could have more...if it an essay type thing then itgoes along like this.....

a sentence is a sentence...like the first introductory one about your subject...
the first paragraph explaining how you are going to discuss your subject and what angle or point you are addressing.

2nd is the questions you are addressing within your subject...3rd is the 1st question and points you are drawing and so on til your last paragraph which brings together all the questions and examples raised throughout your piece and what your outcome is....in totality...reference guide and resource list, etc is at the back and it 's your last page....

does that help?

To teachers out there... Would you make someone down for it?

Of course a paragraph can only have one sentence. Read a news story in any national newspaper, for a start.

In fact, most newspapers and magazines have a rule that the opening para should be one sentence only.

Thanks everyone, I do understand what a paragraph in an essay should look like however, sometimes I use one sentence in a paragraph for effect... Is that punishable?

YANBU.

I am someone who will often write an extremely long sentence, using commas and sometimes semicolons; it's just my style and I can see how it could annoy a - pedantic - marker, especially when I also incorporate dashes (and sometimes even brackets) which can make the whole thing yet more convoluted, however I would have thought that as long as it does not deviate from the rule "one idea per paragraph," it would not be incorrect.

HTH

Interestingly, another tutor read the same piece of work and didn't comment on it... So it's writing styles... Can you see why I'm annoyed? :)

Never a good idea to backchat a tutor though...:)

In a properly structured academic essay a paragraph should have at least 3 sentences. The first is the theme/point of paragraph sentence. The second expands and explains what this means. The third is the example/evidence supporting the point being made.

no...one longer sentence is not punishable....as a stand alone paragraph or within 2/3 sentences...whatever

maybe your tutor misread, just doesn't like concentrating on reading and understanding or has an attention span of an gnat and can't follow a long sentence

keep doing what your doing...discuss concern with other tutors to clarify if it is an issue at all...I don't see it but then I haven't seen the piece of work commented on so ....??