White space
Your text will be more readable if you open it up with white space. Whether on paper or on screen, dense, tightly packed text is usually hard to read.
White space (also referred to as negative space) is the area within a document that is free of text or visuals. Areas of white space give the eye a rest and can frame important information. As a design device, white space allows you to emphasize titles, headings, labels, and other elements of your document.
White space makes an important contribution to the appearance of your documents. If you have written college papers, you have probably used white space to assist your readers.
For example, one-inch margins and double-spacing provide a break for readers’ eyes. Closely spaced or long lines without much white space can interfere with readers’ ability to keep their place in the text and can make a document seem uninviting.
When you indent the first line of each paragraph, the space helps the reader identify a new paragraph. Indenting a long quotation (“block” quotation) sets it off and marks it as a special kind of text.
If you simply separate sections of your paper by hitting the Enter key an extra time or two, you will add too much white space between sections. Too much extra space might break your readers’ attention and make it difficult to follow your points.
Effective use of space is also important in visual presentations, such as transparencies or PowerPoint slides. Providing ample space and limiting the text on each slide helps readers absorb your main points. Text on your slides is meant only to summarize major issues and themes, not to provide details; you can flesh out your main points during your talk.
Effective use of white space in a magazine
Effective use of white space in a magazine
Use of white space on presentation slides
Use of white space on presentation slides
Margins
Margins help control the look of a page. For most print documents, leave a margin of 1 to 1.5 inches on all sides (including top and bottom). These margins create a visual frame for the text and provide room for handwritten annotations. Tight margins crowd the page, making it difficult to read.
Typical margins in an academic paper
Related topics:
Line spacing
Block quotations in MLA, APA, and Chicago style