structural:scholar_edition
Prose is the form of written language (including written speech or dialogue) that follows the natural flow of speech, a language's ordinary grammatical structures, or typical writing conventions and formatting. Thus, prose includes academic writing and differs most notably from poetry, where the format consists of verse: writing formatted in lines, which traditionally follow rhythmic metre or a rhyme scheme. The word "prose" first appeared in English in the 14th century. It is derived from the Old French prose, which in turn originates in the Latin expression prosa oratio (literally, straightforward or direct speech).

Works of philosophy, history, economics, etc., journalism, and most fiction (an exception is the verse novel), are examples of works written in prose. Developments in twentieth century literature, including free verse, concrete poetry, and prose poetry, have led to the idea of poetry and prose as two ends on a spectrum rather than firmly distinct from each other. The British poet T. S. Eliot noted, whereas "the distinction between verse and prose is clear, the distinction between poetry and prose is obscure."