diff --git a/clear_html/formatted_text/main.py b/clear_html/formatted_text/main.py
index e4821fb..145ca2e 100644
--- a/clear_html/formatted_text/main.py
+++ b/clear_html/formatted_text/main.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 from clear_html.formatted_text.headings import normalize_headings_level
 from clear_html.formatted_text.utils import (
     clean_incomplete_structures,
+    double_br,
     kill_tag_content,
     remove_empty_tags,
     set_article_tag_as_root,
@@ -116,12 +117,10 @@ def paragraphy(doc: HtmlElement):
     start, end = None, None
     for idx, child in enumerate(doc):
         if child.tag == "br":
-            prev_child = child.getprevious()
-            if prev_child is None or prev_child.tag != "br" or has_tail(prev_child):
+            if not double_br(child.getprevious()):
                 # A br without previous consecutive br was found
                 start = idx
-            next_child = child.getnext()
-            if next_child is None or next_child.tag != "br" or has_tail(child):
+            if not double_br(child):
                 # A br without next consecutive br was found
                 end = idx
                 if start == end:
diff --git a/clear_html/formatted_text/utils.py b/clear_html/formatted_text/utils.py
index aac8210..c6189e2 100644
--- a/clear_html/formatted_text/utils.py
+++ b/clear_html/formatted_text/utils.py
@@ -163,12 +163,12 @@ def drop_tag_preserve_spacing(doc: HtmlElement, preserve_content=True):
         prev_is_inline = (
             doc_prev is not None
             and doc_prev.tag in PHRASING_CONTENT
-            and not _double_br(doc_prev.getprevious())
+            and not double_br(doc_prev.getprevious())
         )
         after_is_inline = (
             doc_next is not None
             and doc_next.tag in PHRASING_CONTENT
-            and not _double_br(doc_next)
+            and not double_br(doc_next)
         )
 
         has_text_prev = bool(prev_text(doc).strip()) or prev_is_inline
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def drop_tag_preserve_spacing(doc: HtmlElement, preserve_content=True):
         doc.drop_tree()
 
 
-def _double_br(doc: Optional[HtmlElement]):
+def double_br(doc: Optional[HtmlElement]):
     """True if doc and next element are "br" tags without text in between."""
     if doc is None or doc.tag != "br":
         return False