Prose is language typically arranged in sentences and paragraphs. In print or on a screen, a prose sentence can wrap wherever the line runs out of space. In verse, the placement of line breaks is part of the form. Novels, essays, news reports, and instructions commonly use prose.
Examples of prose
- Fiction. The porch light flickered twice. Ana set down the groceries and waited for it to come back on. The sentences create a scene and build anticipation.
- Nonfiction. The porch light uses a motion sensor. It turns off after two minutes without movement. The sentences explain how the light works.
Prose can be poetic
Prose can have strong rhythms, vivid images, and deliberate repetition. A prose poem uses prose formatting while drawing on poetic techniques such as assonance or metaphor. You can usually identify prose by its layout, even when the sentences sound like poetry.
