Rhythm is the regularity with which elements repeat in a text or on a page: the alternation of strokes and white space, letters and spaces, lines and line spacing. Good rhythm makes reading fluid, almost unconscious.
Where to see it
Rhythm can be seen at the scale of a word, in the regular succession of the minims of “n”, “m” or “u”. At the scale of a page, it shows in the repetition of lines, paragraphs and headings, often reinforced by a baseline grid that aligns lines from one column to the next.
Why this detail matters
Rhythm is built at every scale, from the letter to the whole page:
- In a typeface, it depends on the balance between strokes and counters: even spacing gives the text a uniform typographic color;
- On a page, consistent spacing between lines, paragraphs and blocks creates a calm, predictable reading experience;
- Rhythm can also be broken on purpose, with a large headline, an image or generous white space, to create a pause or draw the eye.
Related term
Leading is the vertical space between two lines of text; its regularity is one of the foundations of a page’s rhythm.