---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-line-length-and-spacing.md
title: "Keep lines short enough to track and add space between them"
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."
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, line-length, line-height]
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"
---
# Keep lines short enough to track and add space between them

**Answer:** Lines that are too long make readers lose their place when they read from line to line.

## Line length

- SEC handbook (print): a comfortable line length for most readers is 32 to 64 characters; the smaller the type size, the shorter the line length. Columns can vary from 25–40 characters.
- Web: most lines of text should be 45–90 characters; a good target for long texts is 66 characters.
- Text with more space between lines can have somewhat longer line length; large text can have a shorter measure.

## Line spacing

- SEC handbook: avoid type set solid, with no added leading (10/10); allow at least 2pts of leading between lines.
- USWDS: longer texts should have a line height of at least 1.5; headings of a line or two can sit between 1 and 1.35.
- Readable text has a medium density: the reader typically shouldn't notice the space between lines.

## See also

- [plain-type-size-and-typefaces](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-type-size-and-typefaces/)
- [plain-white-space-and-heading-spacing](https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/plain-white-space-and-heading-spacing/)

## Claims

- id: C1
  claim: SEC: 32 to 64 characters is comfortable.
  source: S1
  evidence: "A comfortable line length for most readers is 32 to 64 characters."

- id: C2
  claim: SEC: at least 2pts of leading.
  source: S1
  evidence: "allow at least 2pts of leading between lines of type."

- id: C3
  claim: USWDS: 45–90 characters per line.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Most lines of text should be 45–90 characters."

- id: C4
  claim: USWDS: line height of at least 1.5 for long text.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Longer texts should have a line height of at least 1.5"

## 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.


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.

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