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[plaxman]

I just received a journal submission which begins with a two sentence introductory paragraph.  The two sentences are very long, but in my training, a paragraph consists of no less than three sentences.  Shall I let this slide (if we decide to publish), or request that the paragraph be extended to at least 3 sentences?

[offthemarket]

Does it work?  Why be slave to a rule if it doesn't have a real purpose?

[onestep]

"A paragraph is a convenient unit; it serves all forms of literary work.  As long as it holds together, a paragraph may be of any length -- a single short sentence or a passage of great duration." 

Note the number of sentences in that paragraph by Shrunk and White (2000, p.15), along with their recommendation. 

[sugaree]

"A paragraph is a convenient unit; it serves all forms of literary work.  As long as it holds together, a paragraph may be of any length -- a single short sentence or a passage of great duration." 

Note the number of sentences in that paragraph by Shrunk and White (2000, p.15), along with their recommendation. 

Ah, but some would have one reject all the advice offered by Strunk and White as it is (allegedly) grammatically incorrect. I would not be one of these people, BTW.

OP, if 2 sentences work as a paragraph, I'm not sure why I would "require" a change. However, if the 2 sentences are both rather lengthy, that sounds like a potential problem. Re-writing the long sentences to shorten them with an eye toward clarity will, by default, change the number of sentences in the paragraph (thus taking care of both clarity and perhaps obsolete grammar rules).

[categorical]

I could imagine it working, but also not.  It might be an interesting flourish, but less so, if, as you say, the sentences themselves are long.

[polly_mer]

What's the point of counting sentences to enforce an arbitrary rule of number?

Either the paragraph stands by itself or it needs work (e.g., different main idea, different arrangement of supporting statements).  Number of sentences should not be a factor.