I am writing an article for my class assignment and I used an Old English Text that is 48 sized and bold as the starting letter. The whole article is double spaced. Somehow due to this "unique" letter, the line spacing between the first and second lines is skewed. Please help me fix it. I am attaching a picture to help understand. I am using Microsoft 365 Office Suite

I don't think you can avoid some gap when you change the font and especially the font size but it does look too large in your example. It is the double spacing that is the issue so select the top two lines then check your Paragraph 'Spacing' is as shown on photo just for those two lines. It will not eliminate the issue but will look better: -

Attached Images

Spacing.png (13.4 KB, 29 views)

Here is the spacing I see with Paragraph 'Spacing' I showed previously: -

Attached Images

Spacing Gap.png (14.5 KB, 27 views)

You can set a fixed value for line spacing. This is called "Exactly" and it may require that you experiment a bit to find the most appropriate value for your text paragraphs.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks, Wigaken and Stefan for your suggestions. In fact, I had to go back and use "Exactly" instead of "Double" for line spacing option and it does look better. Of course there is some extra padding between line 1 and 2 but it is overseeable. See below.

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Test.jpg (98.0 KB, 24 views)

You could try making it a Drop Cap.

Indeed! See attached “Line Spacing.docx”.

Attached Files

Line Spacing.docx (120.1 KB, 9 views)

I'm unsure of the point you are making.
Select letter.
Insert > Drop Cap > Drop Cap Options if needed.

Attached Files

deleteme Line Spacing.docx (121.6 KB, 14 views)

Here is how "Line Spacing.docx" displays on my system in Word 2007.

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Line_Spacing.png (128.1 KB, 21 views)

Did you open the one that I attached?
Did you try the Drop Cap?

“Line Spacing.docx” uses a Drop Cap for the first letter.

jrules80

Try an alternative method to try & equal the line spacing.

Use ‘Single Line Spacing’ for your text, then use the Enter key at the end of each line below the first one to get Double Line Spacing.
You are likely to see the spacing between lines 1 & 2 different from the others.
If so, use the Enter key at the end of the first line, the one with the now Old English font at a size of 48.
Double Click the space between lines 1 & 2 and change the font size to say 10. Then press the Enter key. This size will need to be experimented with to get the correct result. Size 10 works well in my example and closes the gap to suit the rest.
Click the image below to see a short video of how I have achieved the above.

Robert 2: Did you open the one I posted?

Cross-posted at: ms word - How to use Old English font without skewing line spacing - Stack Overflow
For cross-posting etiquette, please read: Excelguru Help Site - A message to forum cross posters

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I did open it. What am I supposed to have noticed?
The OP’s original post indicated that in his document “the whole article is double spaced”. The lines in “deleteme Line Spacing.docx” are not double-spaced, at least not in the first paragraph.
“deleteme Line Spacing.docx” has no opening quote mark for the first paragraph. The OP’s original post showed a screenshot with an opening quote mark for the first paragraph.
The OP’s original post showed a screenshot with the base of the first letter flush with the first-line base. The base of the first letter in “deleteme Line Spacing.docx” is flush with the second-line base.
At least, this is how “deleteme Line Spacing.docx” displays in Word 2007 on my system.