Does "line" always mean row, or can it be used as a substitute for "sentence" when referencing text?
Dictionary definitions seem to define "line" as one row of text. This seems a bit restrictive to me, though … For example, actors can partake in the activity of "reading lines". In that case it seems to be referring to reading sentences.
I am asking because I am trying to have a nice reference structure when referring to specific parts of a scientific paper. To write "methods/statistics/, paragraph 2, lines 4-5" seems more aesthetically pleasing than "methods/statistics/, paragraph 2, sentences 4-5". Is the usage of "lines" (to mean the fourth and the fifth sentence) correct here?
If I am completely in the wrong, what is the nicest way to refer to specific portions of text without using the page/row style? I want to avoid page/row, because it is too much busy work to edit page numbers if you change something major early in the text.
Best Answer
No that doesn't mean the same thing. Sentence 4 might not be on line 4 and will probably extend through more than one line. It's much easier to find line 4 than sentence 4
Microsoft Word contents pages automatically update if a section moves onto a different page