GNU Info

(groff)Implicit Line Breaks

---

Prev: Tab Stops Up: Text

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Implicit Line Breaks
--------------------

   An important concept in `gtroff' is the "break".  When a break
occurs, `gtroff' outputs the partially filled line (unjustified), and
resumes collecting and filling text on the next output line.

   There are several ways to cause a break in `gtroff'.  A blank line
not only causes a break, but it also outputs a one line vertical space
(effectively a blank line).  Note that this behaviour can be modified
with the blank line macro request `blm'.

   A line that begins with a space causes a break and the space is
output at the beginning of the next line.  Note that this space isn't
adjusted, even in fill mode.

   The end of file also causes a break - otherwise the last line of the
document may vanish!

   Certain requests also cause breaks, implicitly or explicitly.  This
is discussed in Note: Manipulating Filling and Adjusting.