Ragged right is an alignment option in which text aligns along the left side of a page but “rags,” or irregular lines, to the right. This alignment often appears in books and publishing.
There are several reasons to use ragged-right alignment in publishing:
- It’s more laid back and approachable than justified text, which may make reading easier.
- It approximates how we read naturally: scanning from left to right.
- By not justifying the right margin, ragged-right can save on space.
Creating ragged-right text has different methods; one involves disabling justification in your word-processing software (usually found under Format or Document settings).
To achieve ragged right text, one can use a hyphenation dictionary that tells the word processor where line breaks are acceptable. This delivers more consistent spacing and enhances readability.
A book or other publication may require you to decide between ragged right alignment and alternatives. Factors that affect your choice include your tone’s appropriateness, available space, and ease of reading.
Ragged right is vital because it produces even margins, enhancing books’ professional appearance and attractiveness. Also, readers find it easier to follow since there’s less risk of getting lost in expanses of white space. Ragged right also eliminates the need for extra margins when printing books, so it preserves paper.
