# Line length

The distance between the left and right edges of a text block, best measured in characters per line.

**Source:** “The Effects of Line Length and Method of Movement on Patterns of Reading from Screen” [The Effects of Line Length and Method of Movement on Patterns of Reading from Screen (Visible Language, 1998)](https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ573260)

See also: [Line height](/reference/glossary/line-height).

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Published 2026-10-29. Web page: https://www.mackenziebowes.com/reference/glossary/line-length