5 Easy Ways To Make Paragraphs Flow

“5 Easy Ways To Make Your

Paragraphs Flow Even If You
Are Not A Natural Writer”
Have you ever been frustrated by seeing an awkward transition
from a paragraph to the next paragraph in your own writing and
not knowing how to fix it? I myself really wanted to know how
to fix it and how to make paragraphs flow naturally. Finally,
here are 5 easy ways I want to share with you. I’m not a natural
writer, but these 5 techniques do work for me and I think they
will work for you. Here they are:

#1: Use Bridge Words

Using a bridge word can sometimes help you to create a natural

transition. What is a bridge word exactly? A bridge word is a
word that appears both in the last sentence of a paragraph and
in the first sentence of the next paragraph.

Here is an example:

…Together, these changes strengthen the synaptic

connections the neurons.
If glutamate produces a strong enough response or
excitation in a neuron, the nerve impulse can pass along to
the next neuron and the next…(C&EN, Sept 3, page 10, 2007)

The last sentence of one paragraph ends with “…Together, these

changes strengthen the synaptic connections the neurons.” Then,
the first sentence of the next sentence starts with “If
glutamate produces a strong enough response or excitation in
a neuron, the nerve impulse can pass along to the next neuron
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 5 Easy Ways To Make Paragraphs Flow

and the next…” See? Using a bridge word neuron gives a natural
transition here. So next time you write, spend a little time
in considering whether or not you can use a bridge word in your
writing.

#2: Use A Topic Sentence Per Paragraph

Using a topic sentence in a paragraph is an effective way to

make your writing clear and strong. Once you determine which
sentence is your topic sentence, the function of the rest of
the sentences is to support that topic sentence. This is
important. If a particular sentence doesn’t seem to support your
topic sentence, that means that particular sentence can be
eliminated from your paragraph. By doing this, you eliminate
side issues. However, this doesn’t mean you have to use topic
sentences all the time. If you break a long paragraph into two
or three ones, they might not have a topic sentence. Shorter
paragraphs may have no topic sentence; longer paragraph may have
two topic sentences. But in general, you include one topic
sentence in a paragraph, while you may break this rule
occasionally.

#3: Use Short Paragraphs

It is a good idea to use short paragraphs occasionally. Why?

Because it gives your reader a short break. Ongoing long
paragraphs tend to be overwhelming and boring. On the other hand,
people are pleased to read a short paragraph if it is concisely
packed. Also, effective use of short paragraphs creates rhythm
in your writing. And that’s a good thing.

#4: Avoid Side Issues

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 5 Easy Ways To Make Paragraphs Flow

Don’t try to include everything. “An article is not everything

that’s true. It’s every important thing that’s true,” said Gary
Provost. And that’s true. Your reader can be distracted by side
issues; because, like it or not, the reader is not so tolerant
as you might assume. So eliminating side issues is crucial to
make your writing flow. If you find any sentence that doesn’t
support a topic sentence, it is a good idea to cross it off.
By the same token, if you find any paragraph that is not directly
linked to your main points, you can eliminate that paragraph
completely. In other words, don’t include it in the first place.

#5: Make Your Writing Move Towards Only One

Direction, Paragraph By Paragraph

It is wise to avoid long transitions because long transitions

tend to distract your reader. Paragraph by paragraph, the
logical progression of your writing should help your reader to
walk towards only one direction (i.e., your main points), and
not hold them back. To put it simply, organize your writing in
a straightforward way.

An effective way is to pick up your topic sentences, outline

them, and see how your writing is organized. If you are like
me, you will have to reorganize the structure of your writing.
That’s fine. Then, to create natural transitions between
paragraphs, you can use transition phrases such as, “However,”
“On the other hand,” “Another reason is,” “In addition to,” “To
understand this,” “For instance,” and so on. You can also use
bridge words as I talked about earlier.

By Teppei Suzuki, Ph.D.

Copyright © 2008-2009 Teppei Suzuki 3
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