Line space problem

[Searcher_5]

When using symbols in a sentence, e.g. greek letters, word
automatically inreases the distance between two lines, even if line
distance is set to 1.5. This creates an irregular spacing on the page
and wrecks up the layout. Why does Word behave like this? How can it be
shut off?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You can set the line spacing to an Exact amount.

 

[Searcher_5]

Dear Suzanne,

well, off course I am aware of this option, but the problem stays the
same and it does not answer my question "why does word behave this
way?". It is to mention, the symbols have the same size as the regular
text, there should be no need for extra line space.

Cheers,
the searcher

 

[Tony Jollans]

The particular symbols you are using may have the same size but they come
from a font which includes larger characters and it is the line height - or
character grid size - built into the font which is the driver for Word to
push the line down a tad. The fact that the extra space it's making is
filled entirely with 'off' pixels is incidental to the process.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Different fonts have different amounts of leading built in. When you choose
1.5 line spacing, you are telling Word to use 1.5 x the Single line spacing,
which is more for your symbol than for the rest of the paragraph.

 

[Searcher_5]

Thanks Tony, your answer makes sense and is very useful to know!
searcher

 

[Searcher_5]

@Suzanne, thanks too! Probably word does not look of the real geometry
of the character in use, but defines the spacing after the maximum size
character that could be used from the symbol font-set.

Cheers,
the searcher

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Precisely; each font is built to allow for that.