Paragraph

While word processors and text editors use a return character (and/or a line feed character, depending on computer platform), they are ignored in HTML, which uses the <P> element to designate a paragraph break.

In order to gain greater compatibity with SGML, in HTML 2.0 usage the <P> element becomes a container  (such as <B>bold</B>) through use of a closing </P> tag. While this is recommended usage, it is optional:

   <P>This is a paragraph.</P>   [recommended usage]

Note that <P> tags should designate the beginning of a paragraph, rather than an end, as in

   <P>This is a paragraph.       [acceptable usage]

not

   This is a paragraph.<P>       [deprecated usage]

Since HTML browsers ignore white space or non-HTML line breaks, use <BR> to insert a line break (which retains the current HTML format) or <P></P> for a new paragraph.

Usage
HTML.edit uses the Option and Shift keys to modify entry of paragraph and line break tags, as shown in the following table:

  Code             Description                  Type this to insert:
  <BR>      Line Break                    Shift-Return
  <P>       Paragraph                    Option-Return
  <P></P>   HTML 2.0 Paragraph    Shift-Option-Return

Note that checking the HTML 2.0 Returns checkbox on the Preferences card swaps usage of the </P> tag between Option-Return and Option-Shift-Return. This is also shown in the table on the Preferences card.

If upon pressing the keystroke to create a new HTML paragraph, the cursor precedes a </P> closing tag, HTML.edit senses this and creates a new paragraph, placing the insertion point appropriately.

It is neither recommended nor particularly elegant to attempt to create white space using multiple paragraph or line break tags. Browsers may (and should) ignore extra paragraph tags. If you really feel the need to create some space, you might try using a <PRE> section containing a number of return characters. Remember that there is no guarantee how much space will be created on various browsers, as fonts and display sizes vary.

Try repeating the mantra “Content over Form, Content over Form…”

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