One counter per paragraph, not one per line
A paragraph is one or more consecutive non-blank lines, separated from the next by a blank line (matching the `split(/\n\s*\n/)` convention used by the other paragraph-aware tools on this site). The counter is prefixed only to the FIRST line of each paragraph, so a paragraph that wraps across three lines gets one counter, not three.
Blank-line spacing is preserved exactly as you wrote it. Two blank lines between paragraphs stay two blank lines; one stays one. Only the first line of each paragraph is rewritten. Inner wrapped lines and the blank-line separators pass through untouched.
Three styles: Numeric for standard numbering, Roman for legal/academic convention, Letters for short lists (up to 26 before wrapping to `AA`). Start at supports continuing numbering across documents. Reverse counts down from the final paragraph. If you want one counter per line instead of per paragraph, use Add counters.
How to use enumerate paragraphs
- 1Separate your paragraphs with blank lines
- 2Paste into the input panel
- 3Pick Style: Numeric, Roman, or Letters
- 4Set Start at to continue numbering from a prior document
- 5Toggle Zero-pad for alignment, Reverse for countdown
Keyboard shortcuts
Drive ListShift without touching the mouse.
What this tool actually does
Paragraph-level numbering: one counter per paragraph, regardless of how many lines the paragraph wraps across.
One counter per paragraph
A paragraph is a run of one or more consecutive non-blank lines. The counter prefixes only the first line of each paragraph. A paragraph that wraps across five lines still gets exactly one counter - no more line-per-line numbering on wrapped prose.
Blank-line separators pass through
Blank and whitespace-only lines are paragraph separators. They come through the output with their exact spacing - two blank lines stay two, one stays one. No spacing normalisation.
Three counter styles
Numeric (`1., 2., 3.`), Roman (`I., II., III.`), Letters (`A., B., C.`). Letters wrap to `AA` after 26 for very long documents.
Zero-pad (numeric only)
Widens every counter to match the digit count of the highest counter - `1..12` → `01..12`. Useful for visually aligned reference lists.
Reverse counts down
With 3 paragraphs and Start at 1, Reverse produces counters `3, 2, 1` in reading order. Useful for countdown-style documents.
Need line-level numbering instead?
Use Add counters (numbers every non-blank line) or Enumerate sentences (same op, sentence-per-line framing). This tool is specifically for blank-line-separated paragraphs.
Worked example
Three paragraphs - the second one wraps across two lines. Only the first line of each paragraph gets a counter; the wrapped line and the blank-line separators pass through untouched.
This is the first paragraph. This is the second paragraph and it continues on a second line. And here is a third.
1. This is the first paragraph. 2. This is the second paragraph and it continues on a second line. 3. And here is a third.
Settings reference
How each option shapes the output using the sample above.
| Setting | What it does | Effect on the sample |
|---|---|---|
| Style: Numeric (default) | `1., 2., 3.` | `1. This is the first paragraph.` / blank / `2. …` |
| Style: Roman | `I., II., III.` | `I. This is the first paragraph.` / blank / `II. …` |
| Style: Letters | `A., B., C.` | `A. This is the first paragraph.` / blank / `B. …` |
| Start at: 5 | Begins counting at 5 | `5. …` / blank / `6. …` / blank / `7. …` |
| Reverse: on | Counts down from highest | `3. …` / blank / `2. …` / blank / `1. …` |
| Multi-line paragraph (automatic) | Treated as one paragraph; only the first line gets a counter | Wrapped second line passes through without a counter |