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Thread: The Great Wall of Text... and why it's bad

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    Member Volcove's Avatar
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    Default The Great Wall of Text... and why it's bad

    First, let me tell you what is a Wall of Text.

    A Wall of Text is a bunch of 'paragraphs' clustered together making a giant paragraph.

    A Great Wall of Text which is either a WHOLE post in a single paragraph, or a huge long line of text where in it is divided into paragraphs, but is extremely long and causes tremendous soreness. It can easily be stopped by adding sections in between intervals of paragraphs, or images to rest the eyes.

    Disadvantages

    Before I tell you what's bad about it, why don't you try reading a post I made, but instead of it's usual paragraph form, it'll become a Wall of Text/Great Wall of Text.

    Spoiler: Wall Of Text 


    Now, a Wall Of Text won't divide the events within a post. It'll just make people wonder how did it go from in the ocean to the sun?

    You should also know that that was written in the font "Helvetica", it is smaller than the default font of the forum, so imagine what it would be like if it was in the default font.

    Read the Paragraphed Form, and tell me what you think.
    Spoiler: Paragraphed Form 


    So, since your eyes are probably burning, you do know what is easier, more organized, and the more respectful and non-eye burning way of writing.
    How To Avoid It!

    If you are used to writing Great Wall of Texts, I suggest you divide your posts into two paragraphs. As you slowly adapt to that, divide them into 3 paragraphs a post, though obviously it's depending on your post length. If you're only writing 50 letters don't divide it into 4 paragraphs!

    I hope you learned something, even if this is a little short.




    I am sick and tired of one or two liners, please, if everyone is typing paragraphs, at least try not to embarrass yourself. Add details. Also, bad punctuation and grammar can really ruin a roleplay. There is an edit button, and a preview post button for a reason.


  2. #2
    Member L's Avatar
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    Default

    You're surely correct Volcove, fantastic post

    I think some people's problem, though, is that they don't know where a paragraph Should be and instead of looking stupid by inserting paragraph in the wrong place, they leave it out (thinking it's the lesser of two evils).

    So where should people be putting paragraphs? A loose rule is that a paragraph should be between 2-5 sentences long. Loose meaning that it can be 1 sentence long if that's all that specific thought is. Or you can do up to 10 sentences, but only in extreme cases and that should be avoided at all cost. But really you shouldn't need to have more than 4-5 sentences if you follow this:

    Spoiler: Strunk's Rule 


    But typically a paragraph will begin with a "subject" sentence, then follow with "support" sentence/s where you elaborate on the subject, then a "closing" sentence - which really just reiterates the rest of the paragraph and leaves it on a strong note.

    Also (as you can see from Volcove's great post) - Speech should, 99% of the time, be a new paragraph (with the attached "he said" and action of course). Like everything else, rules can be broken and you can continue speech in the middle of a paragraph - but you should know the rule first, and WHY you're breaking it, before you break it.

    The best book in the world to go read (and should be compulsory) is William Strunk's Elements of Style.


    Spoiler: Guides 

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