Alignment refers to the way the lines of a text are arranged in relation to the edges of the column: left, right, centered or on both sides at once. This choice sets the shape of the text block and directly affects reading comfort.
Where to see it
Left alignment, also called flush left, dominates in online publications and on most websites, with an uneven right edge known as the rag. Centered text appears on invitations, covers or headlines, and flush right on captions or sidebars placed in the right margin.
Why this detail matters
Each alignment has its uses, and choosing one means deciding how the text will be read:
- Flush left offers even spacing between words and a fixed starting point for each line: it is the most comfortable option for long texts;
- Centered and flush right, harder to read over time, are reserved for short texts such as headlines, quotes or captions;
- A rag that is too uneven, with very long lines followed by very short ones, catches the eye: it is refined by adjusting line breaks or hyphenation.
Related term
Justification aligns the text with both the left and right edges of the column by adjusting the space between words.