Prose

Prose is the ordinary form of the written (or spoken) language.^[1][2] It is not poetry. On the written page it looks like a group of paragraphs. It does not need any special format such as lists or tables. In writing, it is without special rhythm. It is similar to everyday communication. That is what makes it different from poetry and from theatrical works such as plays.

The word prose comes from the Latin prosa, meaning straightforward; so we have the term "prosaic".^[3] Prose writing is usually used to describe facts or to discuss whatever one's thoughts are in free flowing speech. It may be used for newspapers, novels, magazines, encyclopedias, broadcast media, letters, stories, history, philosophy, biography, and many other kinds of writing.

Prose generally has no formal structure, like meter or rhyme, that is often found in poetry. Therefore, it is used to describe literature which is non-poetic, and non-theatrical. There is, however, a blend of the two forms of literature known as prose poetry.

1. ↑ Concise Oxford Dictionary.
2. ↑ Baldick, Chris (2015). Prose. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-871544-3. Retrieved January 7, 2023. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
3. ↑ "prose | Search Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.