Section 6 · Typography

Alignment

Definition

How lines of text line up relative to the column: flush left (ragged right), flush right, centered, or justified (flush on both edges).

Why it matters

Alignment sets the texture and formality of a text block and affects readability. Flush left is the most reliable default for long text because it keeps word spacing even; justified text needs careful control to avoid gaps and rivers.

Example

Body copy set flush left keeps consistent word spacing and a soft right rag; the same copy justified fills the measure evenly but risks uneven spacing if the measure is too narrow.

Not to be confused with

Hierarchy — alignment is how text meets the column edge; hierarchy is the ordering of importance among elements. See Hierarchy.