# Paragraphs

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/writerside/llms.txt).

Paragraphs help you structure your content into more readable chunks, as compared to just a "wall of text". Insert other elements for even better readability: structure topics with [chapters and procedures](structural-elements.html), add [lists](lists.html) and [tables](tables.html), [images](images.html) and [notes](admonitions.html).

In [semantic markup](markup-reference.html#semantic) use the  [<p>](semantic-markup-reference.html#p)  element to create paragraphs. In Markdown, use blank lines to break text into paragraphs.

Semantic markup:

```XML
<p id="unique-id">
    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur
    adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor
    incididunt ut labore et dolore magna
    aliqua.
</p>
<p>
    Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
    exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut
    aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
</p>
```

Markdown:

```
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur
adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor
incididunt ut labore et dolore magna
aliqua.
{id="unique-id"}

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut
aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
```

> **Note:**
> Do not indent paragraphs in Markdown with spaces or tabs — indented text is treated like a code block.

> **Tip:**
> Paragraphs are implicitly added inside other block elements. For example, you do not need to wrap text with the  [&lt;p&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#p)  element inside a list item or a procedure step, if there is just one paragraph of text.

## Inline elements

Use inline elements to indicate the semantic meaning of some text in paragraphs:  [&lt;control&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#control) ,  [&lt;code&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#code) ,  [&lt;path&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#path) ,  [&lt;ui-path&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#ui-path) ,  [&lt;emphasis&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#emphasis) .

```XML
<procedure id="example-procedure">
    <step>
        Click <control>OK</control>,
        call <code>doThis()</code>,
        open <path>file.txt</path>,
        select <ui-path>Edit | Copy</ui-path>,
        and stay <emphasis>focused</emphasis>.</step>
</procedure>
```

Procedure:

* Click OK, call `doThis()`, open `file.txt`, select `Edit | Copy`, and stay focused.

To format text directly with a specific color and font, use the  [&lt;format&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#format)  element:

```XML
<format style="bold" color="#654321">Hello, world!</format>
```

Hello, world!

```XML
<format style="subscript" color="Red">Hello, world!</format>
```

Hello, world!

You can also use other inline elements in paragraphs:

* [&lt;a&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#a) to insert [links](links-and-references.html)

* [&lt;shortcut&gt;](semantic-markup-reference.html#shortcut) to insert [key combinations](shortcuts.html) like `Ctrl + C`