middle of the paragraph

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "middle of the paragraph" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific location within a paragraph, often to discuss content or ideas presented there. Example: "In the middle of the paragraph, the author introduces a compelling argument that challenges the reader's perspective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The first sentence of a body paragraph (often called the topic sentence) prepares the reader for what you'll be covering in that paragraph, the middle of the paragraph presents the information you've gathered, and the last sentence draws a low-level conclusion based on that information.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Examples of such home page addresses include: "www.nytimes.com," "www.mtv.com," "www.randomhouse.com," "www.sony.com," "www.harrys-shoes.com," and "www.mercuryvehicles.com". Defendant himself agreed that after clicking on the first link listed on the home page, the "Foreword," a user would not ascertain the anti-abortion message until the middle of the second paragraph.

Harvard University

But attempting to limit or control workers' ability to go to certain sites or take short breaks like this (I just took one in the middle of the last paragraph) is certainly counter-productive.

TechCrunch

At the end of the book, under Acknowledgments, in the middle of the fourth paragraph down (after Palin has thanked thirty-seven other people -- and a few sentences down from "I appreciate the opportunity to write a book!"), we read, "Thanks as well to Lynn Vincent for her indispensable help in getting the words on paper".

Huffington Post

When you buy the Kindle edition of Konrad Lorenz's "King Solomon's Ring," rather than the paperback version, you save three dollars and fifty-eight cents, but the fetching illustrations by Lorenz of a greylag goose and its goslings walking out from the middle of a paragraph and down the right margin are separated from the text — the marginalia has been demarginalized.

The New Yorker

My minor comments that may help to improve the article are: The main idea of the model is buried somewhere on page 6 in the middle of a paragraph after sentence "What is the reason behind the hourglass shape of DGENs?" Why not explain this as early as possible, certainly in the Introduction, if not in the abstract?

F1000Research

In new guidelines, the state promised complete paragraphs with no deletions, but an excerpt from Kafka (on the importance of literature) changes his words and removes the middle of a paragraph without using ellipses, in the process deleting mentions of God and suicide.

The New York Times

NOTE: You should always introduce a quote, rather than just sticking it in the middle of a paragraph identified only by the citation.

The Washington Post

"I can hear a terrible silence, and there is really nothing happening," Naughtie said, lamenting that the former prime minister had been "in the middle of a paragraph".

The Guardian

Leave off in the middle of a chapter, or preferably the middle of a paragraph.

HuffPost

But it's buried in the middle of a paragraph.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific idea or detail, be precise by including the sentence number or a key phrase from the "middle of the paragraph" to help readers quickly locate the information.

Common error

Don't simply state something is in the "middle of the paragraph" without providing context or a specific identifier. This makes it difficult for readers to find the information you're referencing. Always offer a more specific clue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "middle of the paragraph" functions as a locative phrase, specifying the position of something within a written text. As Ludwig AI states, this is a correct and usable phrase, providing a clear reference point within a paragraph's structure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "middle of the paragraph" serves as a locative phrase to pinpoint specific information within a text. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, consider using more specific references for enhanced clarity. Common across News & Media, Academia, Wiki and Science, the phrase maintains a neutral register. Alternatives like "central part of the paragraph" can provide a more formal tone. For effective writing, avoid vague references and always provide context when using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

central part of the paragraph

Replaces "middle" with "central part", emphasizing the importance of the location.

main body of the paragraph

Substitutes "middle" with "main body", highlighting the core content.

midsection of the paragraph

Uses "midsection" instead of "middle", providing a more formal tone.

paragraph's core

Simplifies to "paragraph's core", focusing on the essential content within.

heart of the paragraph

Employs "heart" as a metaphor for the central and most important part.

within the paragraph

Broader location, not necessarily the middle, simply inside.

paragraph's interior

Uses interior instead of middle

deep within the paragraph

Deep is used to emphasize a location far from the start.

ensconced in the paragraph

Ensconced means comfortably settled.

buried within the paragraph

Buried suggest something not immediately obvious

FAQs

How can I rephrase "middle of the paragraph" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "central part of the paragraph" or "main body of the paragraph". These alternatives replace common words with more sophisticated vocabulary.

Is it better to say "in the middle of the paragraph" or "at the center of the paragraph"?

Both phrases are acceptable. "In the middle of the paragraph" is more common and conversational, while "at the center of the paragraph" is slightly more formal but carries the same meaning.

What does it mean when someone says something is "buried in the middle of the paragraph"?

This suggests the information is present but not easily noticeable or emphasized. It may imply the author intentionally downplayed the detail, or that it requires close reading to uncover.

How do I avoid overusing the phrase "middle of the paragraph" in my writing?

Try to be more specific. Instead of "middle of the paragraph", reference a nearby heading, specific sentence, or a key term to help readers locate the information more precisely.