You add a paragraph in WordPress by typing your text and pressing the Enter key. You can also highlight text and pick Paragraph from the style drop-down in the editor toolbar. We show both ways below.
Why paragraphs matter on your website
Paragraphs are the basic building block of every page and post in WordPress. Each one holds a single idea.
Short paragraphs of one to three sentences are easier to read on a phone or a computer. Visitors scan a page before they read it. Clear breaks help them find what they came for.
They also make your WordPress website look neat. A wall of text sends people away.
How to add a paragraph with the style bar
You do this from the toolbar above the text editor. Log in at yourdomain.com/wp-admin first, then open a post or page.
Open the editor
Go to Posts > Add New for a post, or Pages > Add New for a page. You can also edit an existing one.
Find the toolbar
Look at the row of buttons above the text box. Click the Show Kitchen Sink button at the far right of the style buttons.
Look for the second row
If you clicked the right button, a second row of icons appears. The styling drop-down is on the far left of that row. It is easy to miss.
Highlight your text
Click at the start of the text you want to turn into a paragraph. Drag to the end, or click in the block if you only need one.
Choose Paragraph
Open the drop-down and pick Paragraph. The same drop-down also sets headings, so it is worth learning.
Preview and publish
Click Preview on the right-hand side to see the page as your visitors will. Click Publish to make it live.
The quick way: press Enter
A new paragraph starts each time you press the Enter key. Type your first thought, press Enter, and keep typing.
This is the fastest method. Use it when you write fresh text straight into the editor.
If you paste text from Word or a web page, check the breaks afterward. Pasted text can arrive as one long block. Click where a new paragraph should start and press Enter.
Common mistakes and fixes
The most common mistake is pressing Enter twice to make space. That adds an empty paragraph. Your theme already spaces paragraphs, so one press is enough.
If a paragraph looks like a heading, or a heading looks like body text, the style is wrong. Click inside it and set the drop-down back to Paragraph.
If you cannot find the style drop-down, click the Show Kitchen Sink button again. It toggles the second row on and off.
Repeat these steps for every block of text on your WordPress website that should be its own paragraph. Then read the page once on your phone.
Need a hand with your pages?
Good paragraphs take practice, and your time is better spent running your business. If you would like help, call us at 402-813-4034 and we will answer your questions.
We are an Omaha web design team, and we are open every day from 7 am to 10 pm.
Common questions
What is the fastest way to start a new paragraph?
Press the Enter key at the end of a thought. WordPress starts a new paragraph on the next line.
Why can I not see the style drop-down?
It sits in the second row of the toolbar. Click the Show Kitchen Sink button to open that row.
AboutRod and Tami Atwood
Rod and Tami Atwood and other Websnoogie contributors write the Websnoogie blog. Rod has built websites since 2004 and founded Websnoogie, LLC in Omaha in 2012. Tami is co-owner, content editor and billing expert. Call us at 402-813-4034 or write to staff@websnoogie.com.
