Paragraphs and prose components
Paragraphs in prose are such a general feature that they seem almost self-evident both to recognize and encode. They are encoded with the TEI element p and in most modern texts their boundaries are uncontroversially identifiable. A few points are worth observing, however:
- The boundaries of the p element should be based on the actual extent of the paragraph, not on page breaks or other features that may intervene. Page breaks are encoded with the empty element pb precisely so that they can appear within a paragraph without requiring it to break.
- In older texts, paragraphing may be indicated not by a line break or indentation but by a printed paragraph sign (¶). The TEI p element may be used to identify paragraphs that are marked in this way.
- Indentation of paragraphs should be not be represented by typing spaces or tabs at the start of the paragraph, but should be encoded using the rend attribute. For more information, see the general entry on encoding rendition and also the specific entry on indentation.
The p element may also be used in other contexts: within an item in a list or within a quotation to indicate internal paragraphing or to specify genre. For instance, in a list whose items each contain several paragraphs, p would be used for the internal paragraphing of each item. Similarly, in a multi-paragraph quotation, p would be used to mark the internal paragraphing. While not strictly necessary, using p within quote inside an epigraph will make clear that the quotation is of prose rather than of verse or some other genre; see Example 3.
Examples
Example 1.
<p>About the time in which the patent of Massachusetts received the royal confirmation, Captain John Endicot, with one hundred persons, was sent over by the patentees, to prepare the way for the settlement of a permanent colony in that part of <pb n="28"/> <milestone unit="sig" n="D2v"/> New-England</p>
Example 2.
<p rend="first-indent(1)">And sure, I shall not need many words to persuade you to close with this Proposal. The very offer is a sufficient inducement; nor does it need the set-off’s of Rhetorick to recommend it, were I capable, which yet I am not, of applying them with the greatest force. Since you cannot be so unkind to your selves, as to refuse your real Interest; I only entreat you to be so wise as to examine wherein it consists; for nothing is of worser consequence than to be deceiv’d in a matter of so great concern.</p>
Example 3.
<div type="poem"> <epigraph> <quote><p>You cannot eat your cake and have it too.</p></quote> <bibl>Proverb</bibl> </epigraph> <lg type="poem.sonnet"> <l>How fevered is the man, who cannot look</l> ... </lg> </div>