File: groff.info,  Node: Paragraphs in ms,  Next: Headings in ms,  Prev: Typographical symbols in ms,  Up: ms Body Text

4.6.5.3 Paragraphs
..................

Paragraphing macros "break", or terminate, any pending output line so
that a new paragraph can begin.  Several paragraph types are available,
differing in how indentation applies to them: to left, right, or both
margins; to the first output line of the paragraph, all output lines, or
all but the first.  All paragraphing macro calls cause the insertion of
vertical space in the amount stored in the 'PD' register, except at page
or column breaks.  Alternatively, a blank input line breaks the output
line and vertically spaces by one vee.

 -- Macro: .LP
     Set a paragraph without any (additional) indentation.

 -- Macro: .PP
     Set a paragraph with a first-line left indentation in the amount
     stored in the 'PI' register.

 -- Macro: .IP [marker [width]]
     Set a paragraph with a left indentation.  The optional MARKER is
     not indented and is empty by default.  It has several applications;
     see *note Lists in ms::.  WIDTH overrides the indentation amount
     stored in the 'PI' register; its default unit is 'n'.  Once
     specified, WIDTH applies to further 'IP' calls until specified
     again or a heading or different paragraphing macro is called.

 -- Macro: .QP
     Set a paragraph indented from both left and right margins by the
     amount stored in the 'QI' register.

 -- Macro: .QS
 -- Macro: .QE
     Begin ('QS') and end ('QE') a region where each paragraph is
     indented from both margins by the amount stored in the 'QI'
     register.  The text between 'QS' and 'QE' can be structured further
     by use of other paragraphing macros.

 -- Macro: .XP
     Set an "exdented" paragraph--one with a left indentation in the
     amount stored in the 'PI' register on every line _except_ the first
     (also known as a hanging indent).  This is a Berkeley extension.

   The following example illustrates the use of paragraphing macros.

     .NH 2
     Cases used in the 2001 study
     .LP
     Two software releases were considered for this report.
     .PP
     The first is commercial software;
     the second is free.
     .IP \[bu]
     Microsoft Word for Windows,
     starting with version 1.0 through the current version
     (Word 2000).
     .IP \[bu]
     GNU Emacs,
     from its first appearance as a standalone editor through
     the current version (v20).
     See [Bloggs 2002] for details.
     .QP
     Franklin's Law applied to software:
     software expands to outgrow both RAM and disk space over
     time.
     .SH
     Bibliography
     .XP
     Bloggs, Joseph R.,
     .I "Everyone's a Critic" ,
     Underground Press, March 2002.
     A definitive work that answers all questions and
     criticisms about the quality and usability of free
     software.