Hi,

I have tried to fix this problem, but with no luck so far. So here it goes:

Lines does not go even on my novel, as they do in commercial novels. There's empty line (or two) at bottom of some pages, even if sentence continues on next page. Some other pages are just fine. You can see the problem on my linked example in pages 4 and 6. I have tried paragraph and page layout options, but problem still remains. Maybe it got something to do with automatic page break, or something like that...



I'll appreciate any help, mates. Text is on Finnish, sorry, though that should not matter. Word is 2016 Finnish language version.

Attached Files

Text example.docx (277.5 KB, 15 views)

There are numerous factors that can cause this. For example any one or more of:
• the before/after space between paragraphs isn't an exact multiple the paragraph line spacing;
• widow/orphan control where a paragraph would otherwise only have one line on the next page;
• headings and the like that use a different font and/or point size than other paragraphs;
• the presence of footnotes.
In your attachment's case, it's the combination of your heading point sizes on page 4 and their before/after space. If, for example, you reduce the 'space after' setting for the 'Chapter heads' Style to 15pt, or reducing its line-spacing to 1, the gap at the bottom of that page will be reduced.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks for your reply! I tried everything you suggested, but unfortunately I could not make it work. I can fix those pages(4 and 6) with your instruction, but later other pages have same problem in this and in other chapters. Word won't let me "force" those lines there, or is there way to do that?

I would just like to have "even lines" in top and bottom, like in commercial books. Of course I still have to change fonts, book size etc. later, but I would like to know how to make lining look as in other books. Any further info would be highly appreciated.

I have already listed the possible contributors to the problem; you'll need to deal with each on a case-by case basis - or just accept that that's a consequence of the settings you're using. Alternatively, use a page layout program - not a word processor - for your book.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Take a look at Improving the Bottom Line by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP.


It discusses the factors that macropod has listed.

Cool stuff! I will give it a try