Visual Design
Widows & Orphans
A widow is a lone word or short line left at the end of a paragraph. An orphan is a single line stranded at the top of a column or page, cut off from the rest of its paragraph.
Why it matters
These stray lines create awkward gaps that draw the eye for the wrong reasons. Noticing them helps a beginner make text blocks look intentional and tidy.
In depth
A common memory aid is that an orphan is left behind at the start, while a widow is left behind at the end. They come from print typesetting but still matter on screen, especially in headings and short paragraphs. Fixes include adjusting line length, editing the copy, or using a non-breaking space to keep the last words together.
Real-world example
A paragraph that ends with a single word sitting alone on the last line has a widow, which a designer might fix by tightening the wording or spacing.
Good typography keeps the reader moving without a single stranded word
Related terms