Like balpha once explained very nicely, a <br> line break (newline) should be used
in very few cases, and surely is not the same as a new <p> paragraph. Still the Markdown help only explains line breaks, not paragraphs:
Some sites have an additional "New paragraphs only occur when there is a blank line. A single carriage does not create a new paragraph.", but I feel that's not very clear*, and the emphasis is still on line breaks while it should be on paragraphs:
So:
As a minimum, please add (rephrase) a note about the blank line, and maybe use "Only when really needed [...] force":
Paragraphs and line breaks
Simply use a blank line between two paragraphs to start a new
<p>paragraph. Only when really needed, end a line with two spaces to force a<br/>line break:How do I love thee?__ Let me count the ways
I'd even prefer an explicit example, simply as I think <p> should be favoured over <br> in most situations:
Paragraphs and line breaks
Simply use a blank line to start a new
<p>paragraph:First sentence in the first paragraph. Another sentence. And a third. Maybe making this multiple consecutive lines of text, but still one paragraph. The second paragraph.Only when really needed, end a line with two spaces to force a
<br/>line break:How do I love thee?__ Let me count the ways
Alternatively, slightly change the existing "Linebreaks"† part, and above that add a standalone section, something like:
Paragraphs
A paragraph is simply one or more consecutive lines of text, separated by one or more blank lines:
A blank line is any line that looks like a blank line. A line containing nothing but spaces or tabs is considered blank. Normal paragraphs should not be indented with spaces or tabs.Line breaks
Only when really needed, end a line with two spaces to force a
<br/>line break:How do I love thee?__ Let me count the ways
And: maybe even add a section "Paragraphs" to the inline post help on top of the editor? I'm not sure which help tab should then be shown when auto-expanding it for new users though.
* Also note how not all sites highlight the two spaces with a different background color.
† Yes, I think "line break" likes a space too...
