lead paragraph

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lead paragraph" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in journalism and writing to refer to the first paragraph of an article, which summarizes the main point or hook of the story. Example: "The lead paragraph of the article captured the reader's attention by highlighting the most shocking statistic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Two problems in this lead paragraph.

The New York Times

Text is the translated lead paragraph of the article.

Cornell University

The lead paragraph said her testimony "suggested" that earlier testimony by Gonzales "may have been flawed".

The New York Times

Copy and paste the lead paragraph of the first Japanese language result back into Google Translate.

Columbia University

If I see a lead paragraph that would sound ridiculous in Walter Cronkite's voice, that gives me pause.

The Washington Post

It's worth noting that Ms. Preston had a story in Wednesday's paper that uses the term in its lead paragraph.

The New York Times

"An hour after meeting him," she recalled, "I said, 'Look at the story.' We bonded over the lead paragraph.

The New York Times

"I'm 18 years old, Cuban, and bisexual," she says in the lead paragraph of her recent essay published in Harper's Bazaar.

The Washington Post

In fact, it is astoundingly free of self-pity and characterized by that dazzling display of wit and wordplay that Wheatcroft acknowledges in his lead paragraph.

The New York Times - Books

But the quake was only the lead paragraph on what will be a week-long weather story about another, more slowly approaching bit of tumult: Hurricane Irene.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the lead paragraph, it said that Rebecca Escalante had decided not to post bond for Bonilla because she was concerned about his safety.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing news articles, ensure the "lead paragraph" clearly summarizes the main points to immediately inform the reader.

Common error

Avoid cramming too much information into the "lead paragraph". Focus on the most crucial details to draw the reader in, and elaborate further in subsequent paragraphs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lead paragraph" functions primarily as a noun phrase identifying the introductory paragraph of a text. The purpose of the "lead paragraph" is to summarize the essence of a story. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is standard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lead paragraph" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe the introductory paragraph of a text, particularly in news articles and academic papers. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to summarize the main points and capture the reader's attention. While alternatives like "opening paragraph" or "introductory paragraph" exist, "lead paragraph" is particularly prevalent in journalistic contexts. When writing a "lead paragraph", it's crucial to present the most important information concisely to engage the reader effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lede

Journalistic term synonymous with "lead paragraph".

opening paragraph

Refers more generally to the first paragraph, not necessarily in news or journalistic context.

introductory paragraph

A more formal and academic alternative.

initial paragraph

Emphasizes the position of the paragraph at the beginning of the text.

first paragraph

A simple and direct way to refer to the first paragraph.

top paragraph

A straightforward alternative, emphasizing the paragraph's position.

opening section

Broader; refers to the initial part of a text but may include multiple paragraphs.

first section

Similar to "opening section" but slightly more general.

preamble

Refers to an introductory statement, often in formal or legal contexts.

introduction

Broader; can refer to the entire introductory section of a longer work.

FAQs

How to use "lead paragraph" in a sentence?

You can use "lead paragraph" to describe the introductory part of an article or essay, for example: "The "lead paragraph" should grab the reader's attention immediately."

What's an alternative to "lead paragraph"?

Alternatives include "opening paragraph", "introductory paragraph" or "first paragraph", depending on the context.

What is the purpose of the "lead paragraph" in journalism?

The "lead paragraph" in journalism serves to summarize the most important information of the story, answering the questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Why is the "lead paragraph" so important?

The "lead paragraph" is crucial because it's the first impression of the article. A well-crafted "lead paragraph" entices the reader to continue reading, while a poorly written one can cause them to lose interest.