+ just a UX decision if it should be on/off. + replied on the list, pretty old feature & stable (Miklos) I expect this probably fits ESC better than UI To turning on widow/orphan controls by default for newĭocuments. "I would like to request that someone give official endorsement * Widow / Orphan controls on by default (Justin) Result is the same: the entire 3-line paragraph is completely moved to the next page instead of leaving either an orphan or a widow. Orphan rule applies moving the first line to the next page. There is only one case where they both perform changes: a paragraph covering 3 lines and the need to put a page break within the paragraph (orphan-lines + widow-lines - 1 as a general formula) This causes either 2 lines on the first, and 1 line on the second page or vice versa.Ī) widow rule applies moving one line to the new pageī) then, orphan rule kicks in moving the first line to the new page as well And they both work in the same way: move an additional line (in the case of n = 2) to the next page when the respective constraint is violated. It is probably best to view both features as algorithms to alter the position of the page break within a paragraph.
#Microsoft word widow orphan setting code
In the past 10 or more years, I never noticed any problems having both checked so I presume that the code is already working properly. I do not believe that both settings interact in a non-predictable way. I'd agree with change that both Orphan and Widow text flow > Not sure which gets priority when both are checked active, but they don't In the past, I have always checked both options in the Paragraph dialog and it has always worked perfectly. Orphan: If only one line of your new paragraph just fits on the bottom of the page while the rest of the paragraph goes to the next page, this setting prevents that "orphaned" line on the bottom of the page and causes the paragraph to go completely to the next page.īoth settings control the page break that would happen after the first or before the last line of a paragraph, respectively. Widow: If your paragraph does not fit on the page and the last line would go to the top of the next page, this setting causes the previous line also to go on the new page so that the "widowed" line (consisting probably of only one or two words) does not stand alone on top of the page. I also cannot remember which of both applies to the paragraph start or paragraph end. If both checked active and both at default of 2-what > Widow: Specifies the minimum number of lines in a paragraph in the first > Orphan: Specifies the minimum number of lines in a paragraph before a page > of page, while Widow controls page break at top of page. > Also, aren't the two mutually exclusive? Orphan controls page break at end I think that the current default setting of 2 lines is suitable. > What line settings would be used if by default is set enabled? Runt: Single, short word at the end of a paragraph.(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #4) Orphan: A paragraph-opening line that appears by itself at the bottom of a page or column, thus separated from the rest of the text. Widow: A paragraph-ending line that falls at the beginning of the following page or column, thus separated from the rest of the text.
#Microsoft word widow orphan setting manual
The Chicago Manual of Style and Robert Bringhurst in the Elements of Typographic Style agree: There seem to be different opinions on what is called an orphan and a widow. So now to the definition and naming of these little nitpicks. This is important no matter if the project is a website design, PowerPoint presentation, research report, brochure design, an invitation or any other design that includes text. This would be called an “orphan” or “widow”.Īs graphic designers, we adjust the space between words and/or letters to resolve these typographic problems as the final step in the design process.
Similarly, a line or word of text that jumps to the next page/column or starts a page/column should be avoided for the same reason. This break is caused by the unintended white space that calls more attention than necessary to the single word. Why? A lonely single word at the end of a paragraph creates a visual interruption in the flow that breaks the reader’s focus. In typography, you want to avoid single words as the last line of a paragraph and single lines of text at the beginning or end of a column or page.