[texhax] Indent first paragraph?

[Lars Madsen]

Senthil Kumar M :

> On Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 6:38 PM, Robert Wilson <millstadtf at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I know you are not supposed to indent the first paragraph of a section, but
>> I am unable to find an authority on the subject. So far the best I have
>> found is an MIT webpage
>> (http://web.mit.edu/answers/latex/formatting/latex_indentfirst.html). Can
>> anyone direct me to a style manual? I could not find it in the Chicago
>> Manual of Style, and I am trying to settle an argument.
> [Snip]
>
> Apparently, Robert Bringhurst recommends not indenting the first
> paragraph in his Elements of Typographic Style.
>
> Bringhurst, 1st ed.:
>
>    2.3.1 Set opening paragraphs flush left.
>
>    The function of a paragraph indent is to mark a pause, setting the
> paragraph apart from what precedes it. If a paragraph is preceded by a
> title or subhead, the indent is superfluous and can therefore be
> omitted, as it is here.
>
> Only apply this if there is vertical space in-between the header and
> the body text (as in the example I quoted).
>
> I found the above in a similar discussion here (by googling):
> http://ask.metafilter.com/18872/No-indentation-of-initial-paragraphs
>
> Senthil
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The oxford guide to style just mentions that "it is common not to indent 
the first paragraph in each chapter or the first new paragraph following a 
heading..."

/daleif