Passage vs. Paragraph — What's the Difference?

May consist of several paragraphs or sentences.

Often starts with a topic sentence.

A segment of text chosen for specific analysis or citation.

Part of the original structure of a text.

Often cited in academic or religious contexts.

A distinct section of writing containing multiple sentences.

The action or process of moving through or past somewhere on the way from one place to another

Usually focused on a single idea or topic.

A narrow way allowing access between buildings or to different rooms within a building; a passageway

Serves to organize information.

The process of transition from one state to another

A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος, parágraphos, "to write beside") is a self-contained unit of discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences.

A short extract from a book or other printed material

A distinct division of written or printed matter that begins on a new, usually indented line, consists of one or more sentences, and typically deals with a single thought or topic or quotes one speaker's continuous words.

The propagation of microorganisms or cells in a series of host organisms or culture media, so as to maintain them or modify their virulence

A mark ( ¶ ) used to indicate where a new paragraph should begin or to serve as a reference mark.

A movement performed in advanced dressage and classical riding, in which the horse executes a slow elevated trot, giving the impression of dancing.

A brief article, notice, or announcement, as in a newspaper.

Subject (a strain of microorganisms or cells) to a passage

To divide or arrange into paragraphs.

Movement from one place to another

A passage in text that starts on a new line, the first line sometimes being indented, and usually marks a change of topic.

The process of elapsing

(originally) A mark or note set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, such as a change of subject.

The process of changing from one condition or stage to another; transition

A brief article, notice, or announcement, as in a newspaper.

Enactment into law of a legislative bill.

(computing) An offset of 16 bytes in Intel memory architectures.

A journey, especially one by air or water

To sort text into paragraphs.

The right to travel as a passenger, especially on a ship

To publish a brief article, notice, or announcement, as in a newspaper.

The right, permission, or power to come and go freely

Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character

A path, channel, or duct through, over, or along which something may pass

A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark

A corridor.

A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph.

An occurrence or event

To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character

Something, such as an exchange of words or blows, that occurs between two persons

To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article.

A segment of a written work or speech

To mention in a paragraph or paragraphs

(Music) A segment of a composition, especially one that demonstrates the virtuousity of the composer or performer

One of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line

A section of a painting or other piece of artwork; a detail.

Divide into paragraphs, as of text;

(Physiology) The process of discharging something from a bodily part, such as evacuation of waste from the bowels.

Write about in a paragraph;

(Medicine) The introduction of an instrument into a bodily cavity.

Write paragraphs; work as a paragrapher

(Obsolete) Death.

A slow cadenced trot in which the horse raises and returns to the ground first one diagonal pair of feet, then the other.

To execute such a trot in dressage.

To cause (a horse) to execute such a trot in dressage.

A paragraph or section of text or music with particular meaning.

Part of a path or journey.

An incident or episode.

The official approval of a bill or act by a parliament.

The advance of time.

(art) The use of tight brushwork to link objects in separate spatial plains. Commonly seen in Cubist works.

A passageway or corridor.

(nautical) A strait or other narrow waterway.

(caving) An underground cavity, formed by water or falling rocks, which is much longer than it is wide.

(euphemistic) The vagina.

The act of passing; movement across or through.

The right to pass from one place to another.

A fee paid for passing or for being conveyed between places.

Serial passage.

A gambling game for two players using three dice, in which the object is to throw a double over ten.

(dressage) A movement in classical dressage, in which the horse performs a very collected, energetic, and elevated trot that has a longer period of suspension between each foot fall than a working trot.

(medicine) To pass something, such as a pathogen or stem cell, through a host or medium.

(rare) To make a passage, especially by sea; to cross.

To execute a passage movement.

Of a bird: Less than a year old but living on its own, having left the nest.

The act of passing; transit from one place to another; movement from point to point; a going by, over, across, or through; as, the passage of a man or a carriage; the passage of a ship or a bird; the passage of light; the passage of fluids through the pores or channels of the body.

Transit by means of conveyance; journey, as by water, carriage, car, or the like; travel; right, liberty, or means, of passing; conveyance.

Price paid for the liberty to pass; fare; as, to pay one's passage.

Removal from life; decease; departure; death.

Way; road; path; channel or course through or by which one passes; way of exit or entrance; way of access or transit. Hence, a common avenue to various apartments in a building; a hall; a corridor.

A continuous course, process, or progress; a connected or continuous series; as, the passage of time.

A separate part of a course, process, or series; an occurrence; an incident; an act or deed.

A particular portion constituting a part of something continuous; esp., a portion of a book, speech, or musical composition; a paragraph; a clause.

Reception; currency.

A pass or en encounter; as, a passage at arms.

A movement or an evacuation of the bowels.

In parliamentary proceedings: (a) The course of a proposition (bill, resolution, etc.) through the several stages of consideration and action; as, during its passage through Congress the bill was amended in both Houses. (b) The advancement of a bill or other proposition from one stage to another by an affirmative vote; esp., the final affirmative action of the body upon a proposition; hence, adoption; enactment; as, the passage of the bill to its third reading was delayed.

The act of passing from one state or place to the next

A section of text; particularly a section of medium length

A way through or along which someone or something may pass

The passing of a law by a legislative body

A journey usually by ship;

A short section of a musical composition

A path or channel or duct through or along which something may pass;

A bodily process of passing from one place or stage to another;

The motion of one object relative to another;

The act of passing something to another person

A part of a literary work.

Extracted text used for illustration or explanation.

A Passage is a segment of text chosen for specific purposes like analysis or citation.

Yes, a Passage can contain one, multiple, or parts of Paragraphs.

The length of a Passage is flexible and depends on its purpose.

Passages are often used for citation, analysis, or illustration.

The purpose of a Paragraph is to organize information and make text easier to read.

Passages are cited according to academic standards like APA, MLA, or Chicago style.

A Paragraph is a distinct section of writing that usually focuses on a single idea.

A Paragraph could be part of a longer Passage cited or analyzed.

A typical Paragraph is brief and consists of multiple related sentences.

Yes, a Paragraph often has a fixed structure, sometimes starting with a topic sentence.

A new Paragraph typically starts with an indent or by skipping a line.

While less common, one-sentence Paragraphs do exist for emphasis or effect.

A Passage is similar to a quote but may be longer and serve different analytical purposes.

In poetry, "stanza" is more commonly used than either Passage or Paragraph.

Paragraphs are usually structured with an introduction, body, and conclusion.