# What are good ways to present proofs of theorems requiring auxiliary lemmas? [closed]

I am writing an academic paper for submission to a journal. One of my co-authors wrote the following:

Theorem Statement of the theorem

Proof of theorem We first show the following result

Lemma Statement of lemma used to prove the theorem

However, I think that it is more natural to present things in the following way:

Theorem Statement of the theorem

We first show the following result which is used to prove the theorem:

Lemma Statement of lemma used to prove the theorem

Proof of theorem blah blah

I understand that this is a subjective question so I am happy to mark this as community wiki if most people feel that it belongs there.

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## closed as primarily opinion-based by Daniel Moskovich, BS., John Pardon, Andy Putman, Gerald EdgarAug 2 '13 at 0:35

Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

I more often see the order lemma, theorem, proof. –  Joel Reyes Noche Aug 1 '13 at 23:54
I agree that the second way is better. The first way leaves the question unanswered whether the lemma is only formulated in the context of the theorem, in the context of its proof (which may be more restrictive, e. g., due to WLOG assumptions or cases) or in the context of the surrounding paper. In the second way, it is clear that the context is that of the surrounding paper. –  darij grinberg Aug 2 '13 at 0:07
Obviously which is more natural / easier to read depends a lot on the specific context (for example, the relative length of the proof of the theorem and/or lemma, and whether the lemma is really just a "claim" on the way to proving the theorem or rather more independent). –  John Pardon Aug 2 '13 at 0:07
+1 for asking such a question, although I understand the close voters: such a question might be better at math.stackexchange. –  darij grinberg Aug 2 '13 at 0:08
I think this question is too localized for MO as phrased currently, but that doesn't make MSE a better fit. A better way to phrase it might be, "What are good ways to present proofs of theorems requiring auxiliary lemmas?" Certainly, though, this question is of interest to research mathematicians, and is specifically about mathematical writing. –  Noah Schweber Aug 2 '13 at 0:19

The guiding principle should be: think of your readers. Nesting results inside the proofs of other results can make things confusing. I am looking right now at a paper that has three instances of that, and one of them is truly egregious: the bracket diagram is like this: $((((()))(())))$.