diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e44541c..57d5b91 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ ym live report.yml
   | `_blockquote` | A quotation with attribution |
   | `_code` | A non-executable, syntax-highlighted code block |
   | `_py` | Execute Python and optionally show the source |
+  | `_p` | A standalone paragraph with a selectable text style |
   | `_loadjson` | Load variables from a JSON file |
   | `_pagebreak` | Force a page break |
   | `_hrule` | A configurable horizontal rule |
diff --git a/docs/reference/blocks.md b/docs/reference/blocks.md
index 38f9be0..4b03eaa 100644
--- a/docs/reference/blocks.md
+++ b/docs/reference/blocks.md
@@ -38,14 +38,11 @@ The suffix does not affect how the block is executed. It is simply an optional i
 | [`_code`](#block-code) | A non-executable code block. |
 | [`_py`](#block-py) | Execute Python and optionally show the syntax-highlighted source. |
 | [`_loadjson`](#block-loadjson) | Load variables into the document from a JSON file. |
-<<<<<<< HEAD
+| [`_p`](#block-p) | A standalone paragraph, with a selectable text style. |
 | [`_ul`](#block-ul) | An unordered (bulleted) list. |
 | [`_ol`](#block-ol) | An ordered (numbered) list. |
-| [`_pagebreak`](#block-pagebreak) | Force a page break. |
-=======
 | [`_pagebreak`](#block-pagebreak) | Force a page break, optionally switching page template. |
 | [`_nextpagetemplate`](#block-nextpagetemplate) | Arm the page template to switch to at the next break. |
->>>>>>> adb6527 (feat: implement multiple named page templates)
 | [`_hrule`](#block-hrule) | A customizable horizontal rule. |
 | [`_spacer`](#block-spacer) | Insert vertical whitespace. |
 
@@ -255,6 +252,45 @@ _loadjson:
 
 ---
 
+(block-p)=
+## `_p` — Standalone paragraphs
+
+Emit a paragraph on its own, without first introducing a heading key. This is handy
+for body text that follows another block — a note after an admonition, a caption-like
+line under a figure — where you don't want a heading and a bare list item wouldn't let
+you choose the text style.
+
+The quickest form takes the text directly:
+
+```yaml
+Report:
+  - _info: Something worth noting.
+  - _p: A follow-up paragraph, no heading required.
+```
+
+Use the mapping form to pick a **text style** — any family defined in
+[`_style.styles`](configuration.md#cfg-style):
+
+```yaml
+Report:
+  - _matplotfig:
+      fig: $fig
+      caption: "Figure 1"
+  - _p:
+      content: Figures are approximate; see the appendix for exact values.
+      style: fine-print
+```
+
+| Parameter | Required | Default | Meaning |
+| --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| `content` | ✅ | — | The paragraph text. `text` is accepted as an alias. |
+| `style` | | `default` | Name of the text style family to render the paragraph in. |
+
+Paragraph text supports the same inline markdown and `{{variable}}` interpolation as
+ordinary body text. An unknown `style` raises an error listing the available styles.
+
+---
+
 (block-ul)=
 ## `_ul` — Unordered lists
 
diff --git a/src/ymprint/blocks/p_block.py b/src/ymprint/blocks/p_block.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c256f16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ymprint/blocks/p_block.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+from reportlab.platypus import Paragraph, Spacer
+from . import register_block
+from ..content_converters import convert_paragraph
+from ..exceptions import YMPrintSyntaxException
+
+
+def _resolve_family(style_name: str, context: dict) -> str:
+    """
+    Returns 'style_name' if it names a known text style family, else raises.
+
+    Kept local (rather than importing story_builder._resolve_style) to avoid a
+    circular import: story_builder imports the block registry from this package.
+    """
+    families = context["styles"].get("families", {})
+    if style_name in families:
+        return style_name
+    raise YMPrintSyntaxException(
+        f"Text style {style_name!r} not found. Available styles: {list(families.keys())}"
+    )
+
+
+def convert_p_block(block_key: str, block_value, context: dict) -> list[Paragraph | Spacer]:
+    """
+    Renders a standalone paragraph, so an author can emit body text after another
+    block without first introducing a heading key.
+
+    'block_value' is either a bare string (the paragraph text, default style) or a
+    mapping with:
+        content / text : the paragraph text (required)
+        style          : a named text style family (default 'default')
+    """
+    if isinstance(block_value, str):
+        text, style_name = block_value, "default"
+    elif isinstance(block_value, dict):
+        if "content" in block_value:
+            text = block_value["content"]
+        elif "text" in block_value:
+            text = block_value["text"]
+        else:
+            raise YMPrintSyntaxException(
+                f"The '{block_key}' block requires a 'content' (or 'text') attribute."
+            )
+        style_name = block_value.get("style", "default")
+    else:
+        raise YMPrintSyntaxException(
+            f"The '{block_key}' block value must be a string or a mapping, "
+            f"got {type(block_value).__name__}."
+        )
+
+    family = _resolve_family(style_name, context)
+    return convert_paragraph(str(text), context, "body", family)
+
+
+register_block("_p", convert_p_block)
diff --git a/src/ymprint/report_reader.py b/src/ymprint/report_reader.py
index 9a44fc9..5994501 100644
--- a/src/ymprint/report_reader.py
+++ b/src/ymprint/report_reader.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from .blocks import json_block
 from .blocks import matplotfig_block
 from .blocks import code_block
+from .blocks import p_block
 
 from .config.config_loaders import load_report_config
 from .config import ReportStyles, TableStyle, DocConfig
diff --git a/tests/test_p_block.py b/tests/test_p_block.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66968e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_p_block.py
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+import pathlib
+
+import pytest
+
+from ymprint.config.config_loaders import load_report_config
+from ymprint.context_builder import build_context
+from ymprint.blocks.p_block import convert_p_block
+from ymprint.story_builder import build_story
+from ymprint.exceptions import YMPrintSyntaxException
+
+# A style config with the default family plus a smaller named "fine-print" family,
+# so tests can tell the two apart by rendered font size.
+BASE_STYLE = {
+    "headings": {"font": "Helvetica", "color": "#222222", "ratio": "major third"},
+    "body": {
+        "font": "Helvetica",
+        "color": "black",
+        "size": 10,
+        "spacing": 1.7,
+        "bullets": {
+            "font": "Helvetica",
+            "size": 10,
+            "color": "black",
+            "symbols": "•‣",
+            "spacing": 10,
+            "indent-bullet": 20,
+            "indent-text": 40,
+        },
+    },
+    "styles": {"fine-print": {"body": {"size": 6, "color": "#888888"}}},
+}
+
+
+def make_context(document_vars=None, style=BASE_STYLE):
+    styles, tbl, doc = load_report_config({"_style": style}, None)
+    return build_context(
+        {}, styles, doc, tbl, document_vars or {},
+        pathlib.Path.cwd(), pathlib.Path.cwd(), None,
+    )
+
+
+def paras(story):
+    """(text, fontSize) for every rendered Paragraph in a story."""
+    return [
+        (f.getPlainText(), f.style.fontSize)
+        for f in story
+        if hasattr(f, "getPlainText")
+    ]
+
+
+# --- value forms -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_bare_string_renders_default_body_paragraph():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    story = convert_p_block("_p", "A quick paragraph.", ctx)
+    rendered = paras(story)
+    assert rendered == [("A quick paragraph.", 10)]
+
+
+def test_mapping_content_attribute():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    story = convert_p_block("_p", {"content": "Mapping form."}, ctx)
+    assert paras(story) == [("Mapping form.", 10)]
+
+
+def test_text_alias_for_content():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    story = convert_p_block("_p", {"text": "Aliased."}, ctx)
+    assert paras(story) == [("Aliased.", 10)]
+
+
+def test_style_selects_named_family():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    story = convert_p_block(
+        "_p", {"content": "Small print.", "style": "fine-print"}, ctx
+    )
+    # fine-print body renders at size 6, not the default 10
+    assert paras(story) == [("Small print.", 6)]
+
+
+# --- errors ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_unknown_style_raises():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    with pytest.raises(YMPrintSyntaxException):
+        convert_p_block("_p", {"content": "x", "style": "does-not-exist"}, ctx)
+
+
+def test_missing_content_raises():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    with pytest.raises(YMPrintSyntaxException):
+        convert_p_block("_p", {"style": "default"}, ctx)
+
+
+def test_invalid_value_type_raises():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    with pytest.raises(YMPrintSyntaxException):
+        convert_p_block("_p", ["not", "a", "paragraph"], ctx)
+
+
+# --- content rendering -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_inline_markdown_is_converted():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    story = convert_p_block("_p", "Some **bold** text.", ctx)
+    # convert_inline_markdown turns **bold** into reportlab <b> markup
+    assert "<b>bold</b>" in story[0].text
+
+
+def test_jinja_variable_is_interpolated():
+    ctx = make_context(document_vars={"name": "Ada"})
+    story = convert_p_block("_p", "Hello {{name}}.", ctx)
+    assert paras(story) == [("Hello Ada.", 10)]
+
+
+# --- end to end via build_story ----------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_paragraph_after_a_block_without_heading():
+    ctx = make_context()
+    source = {
+        "Section": [
+            {"_info": "An admonition."},
+            {"_p": {"content": "Follow-up paragraph, no heading needed.", "style": "fine-print"}},
+        ]
+    }
+    rendered = dict(paras(build_story(source, ctx)))
+    assert rendered["Follow-up paragraph, no heading needed."] == 6