Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

3. Double Returns

Hitting the Return or Enter key twice between paragraphs or after headlines separates the text with big, awkward gaps. Double Returns also make it possible to end up with a blank line at the top of a column.

Learn to use the feature to set “Paragraph space after” and “Paragraph space before.” It’s in every word processor and page layout application. With that feature you can determine exactly the amount of space you want between paragraphs, after headlines, above subheads—an elegant space that tells the reader a new paragraph has begun without physically separating the text so much.

Notice the difference between these three paragraphs and the rest of the paragraphs in the book—wouldn’t you agree that the gap appears unnecessarily ...