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 (simplifying it to a single 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 in a new paragraph container.

Simply begin your first paragraph by typing Option-Return (which places the cursor within the paragraph container), then at the end of each paragraph, type Option-Return to begin a new paragraph.

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