topic sentence
Pronunciation
Noun
B1 Intermediate
Quick answer
The sentence, usually the first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main idea.
Usage notes
Placing the topic sentence first is common in English academic writing, though not every culture's writing conventions follow this pattern.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "A strong _____ tells the reader exactly what the rest of the paragraph will discuss."
Answer: topic sentence
In your own words, what does "topic sentence" mean?
The sentence, usually the first in a paragraph, that states the paragraph's main idea.
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