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?

Depends how many of your paragraphs consist of one sentence. Yes, I'd mark you down if it were a regular occurance.
I don't teach Lit.

I have always thought that paragraphs with one sentence are gramatically correct. I read a book for my book club not long ago and nearly all the paragraphs were one sentence. It was really irritating to read. I think though I would do a bit of research on the internet. I agree that challenging tutors on this point might not be a great idea.

Ok, in the spirit of diplomacy, I'll leave my own writing style at the keyboard for now...I'll go with Kladdkaka...

"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."

Thanks everyone

I haven't read one for years (no honestly!) but I seem to remember that Jackie Collins went in for a lot of one and two word sentences and paragraphs.

IIRC her books go a bit like this:

A noise in the corner startled him and he froze for a moment. He turned around and there she was.

Lucky Santangelo.

Brave.

Ballsy.

Beautiful.

continues till reader loses will to live...

my assignment was not quite that bad!

Of course a paragraph can be only one sentence. I'm an English teacher so I am right

I am doing an English lit degree and wouldn't do it but only because my style is very convoluted.

I have however questioned two of my marks this year and in particular one of the feedback points that the tutor had made. Both marks were increased.

Recently did a grammar n language course at work. ' a paragraph must contain at least 2 sentences. The sentences must relate to the same topic.'

You absolutely can have a single sentence paragraph. It's not grammaticaly incorrect per se. Of course there could be some grammar errors within the sentence, but it's not wrong to have a one sentence paragraph. Just go read any legal judgment! They're full of them. Trust me, I am a professional in this area :)

What hackmum said. In fact, it's unusual to have a par with more than one sentence in news stories.

(This is probably something to do with small column widths in newsprint, but nevertheless a good example of where it's the norm.)

Has your tutor just commented on it, or actually marked you down for it?

OK - paragraphing often is a matter of opinion. fwiw, it drives me crazy when I've read papers by friends doing phds & I think their writing is appalling. I don't care what subject they are writing about - they should be able to communicate their findings.

forget about any examples from fiction - that is a completely different.

If you're writing in a formal situation (e.g. essay) then you should follow the rules. The example of the 3 sentence paragraph is for a main paragraph asserting a particular point. I teach students to make sure that they PEE in every paragraph (point, evidence, explain). The explanation is often the key part and should be at least one sentence long. The PEE components don't have to go in a particular order, and I think that could lead to what you're trying to do.

Linking paragraphs, that form a bridge between one point and another can be less than 3 sentences, but they smooth the transition. I would always try to make them 2 sentences anyway, just to keep the pedants happy.

If you're putting a sentence by itself to make it stand out, then that's a problem. It's a style used in fiction to get a reaction from the audience. In an academic paper you shouldn't be giving highlights, or getting a response, it is supposed to be as objective as possible. I suspect that what you're doing is rounding off a point with your opinion/findings/reiterating the point or something like this. Then that sentence should be in a paragraph with the material it is relating to. (Don't put a main point by itself)

That bit in brackets is what I suspect you are putting by itself. It's the finale of the paragraph, not its own point, so shouldn't be left out in the cold like this. Keep it with the paragraph that it belongs to.

When someone is reading your work, they will subconsciously pause whenever you start a new paragraph. If they then realise that the thought should have been part of the previous paragraph, it disrupts their flow and can be annoying as it give s a 'disconnected' feel to the ideas.

It can upset a pedant.

Anyway, before this turns into an essay of its own, one last point.

Whoever is grading the paper is right.

Thanks kickassangel, I think you've explained my tutors perspective.

I hope it didn't sound like a lecture, but I've been teaching this for 20 years, so I kind of get carried away.

Well put kickass.

If you write for a tabloid newspaper, a paragraph can consist of one sentence.

In a scholarly piece of writing, definitely not. A paragraph in an essay needs to not only make a point, it needs to provide evidence and build up to that point. It cannot do that in one sentence. (I am a lecturer too, btw).

Thanks again everyone, this thread has even very helpful :)

Just wanted to say I used to be a GCSE marker in Eng and there were extra marks given for structural features which would include such things as one important sentence set out on its own as a paragraph.

it could not possibly work in an accedemic piece. This kind of writting requires, a background or linking scentance state your claim and back that claim up before you sum up. Realisiticly the expectation is a paragraph would have a begining middle and end.

What about the opening paragraph of Pride and Prejudice ffs?

Of course a paragraph can consist of one sentence. What's he on about?

I think it all comes down to writing styles and I'm writing an academic paper so have to follow the rules, I suppose.

I think you would get away with it in intro and conclusion though.