---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-flush-left-ragged-right.md
title: "Set text flush left with a ragged right edge"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; original synthesis in our own words"
license_family: usgov
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, A Plain English Handbook, US government work, public domain; U.S. Web Design System (GSA), Typography, US government work, public domain; GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive, Use lists, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-09
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-09
as_of: 2026-11-09
confidence: medium
untested: "Editorial checklist only; not tested with readers. Sources fetched and evidence checked."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "write-edit"
tags: [plain-language, typography, alignment, design]
client: Librarian
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "A Plain English Handbook"
    publisher: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
    url: https://www.sec.gov/pdf/handbook.pdf
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "Typography"
    publisher: U.S. Web Design System (GSA)
    url: https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/typography/
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S3
    title: "Use lists"
    publisher: GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/organize/use-lists.md
    accessed: 2026-11-09
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# Set text flush left with a ragged right edge

**Answer:** Align body text on the left and leave the right edge ragged. Avoid fully justified and centered text.

## Why

- SEC handbook: research shows that the easiest text to read is left justified, ragged right text.
- Fully justified text makes the spacing between words fluctuate from line to line, causing the eye to stop and readjust.
- Be especially wary of centering text, or using text to form a shape; uneven margins make reading extremely difficult.
- U.S. Web Design System: type set flush left gives the eye a constant starting point for each line; justified text does not yet display well enough in a web browser to be a best practice.

## Lists too

Lists are easier to read with left justification only, never center justification.

## See also

- [plain-line-length-and-spacing](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-line-length-and-spacing/)
- [plain-type-size-and-typefaces](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-type-size-and-typefaces/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: SEC: left justified, ragged right is easiest to read.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Research shows that the easiest text to read is left justified, ragged right"

- id: C2
  claim: SEC: be wary of centering text.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Be especially wary of centering text"

- id: C3
  claim: USWDS: set type flush left.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Set type flush left."

- id: C4
  claim: FPLG: never center lists.
  source: S3
  evidence: "Use left justification only – never center justification"

## Sources

- [S1] A Plain English Handbook. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.sec.gov/pdf/handbook.pdf . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S2] Typography. U.S. Web Design System (GSA). https://designsystem.digital.gov/components/typography/ . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.

- [S3] Use lists. GSA / PlainLanguage.gov archive. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/GSA/plainlanguage.gov/main/_pages/guidelines/organize/use-lists.md . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-09.


License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: US federal government works (GSA, GPO, SEC, CDC), public domain in the United States; third-party quotations inside those works were not used. Text was condensed and changed from the originals.

---

Agents: [/agents.md](/agents.md) | [/.well-known/agent-library.json](/.well-known/agent-library.json).