How can one number paragraphs in LaTeX?

Question

Given a bunch of paragraphs:

Para. A ...

Para. B ...

Para. C ...

How can one have LaTeX automatically number them, i.e.

1. Pa         


        

Answer 1

I think there are three possible solutions (at least!) which don't involve rolling your own or someone else's macro, depending on exactly what you are trying to do.

1 If the numbering is required throughout the document, use \paragraph, which is a lower-level sectioning command (like \chapter, \section, \subsection, etc.)

See the LaTeX wikibook for more information.

\setcounter{secnumdepth}{5}
...
\paragraph{If we want to} do something ... 

(You may find this overkill/ugly, because it needs a properly nested structure of sections and subsections not to be)

Note that if your using the memoir document class (which I recommend unhesitatingly), the \setcounter line becomes \maxsecnumdepth{paragraph}

2 If it's just a small piece, use a list:

\begin{enumerate}
\item Para No. 1
\item Para No. 2
...
\end{enumerate} 

3 Or a generalized list (\begin{list}...\end{list{}) if you want to tweak the formatting. I haven't immediately been able to find a good online reference for this, other than the piece in A Guide to LaTeX