LaTeX Spacing
Vertical: \vspace, \smallskip/\medskip/\bigskip. Horizontal: \hspace, \quad/\qquad. Line spacing: setspace package.
Vertical spacing
% Arbitrary
\vspace{1em} % 1 em-height
\vspace{12pt} % 12 points
\vspace{2cm} % 2 cm
% Semantic (scales with font)
\smallskip % ~3pt
\medskip % ~6pt
\bigskip % ~12pt
% Force the space (don't remove at page breaks)
\vspace*{1em}
% Stretch / fill
\vfill % fill remaining vertical space
\vspace{\fill} % aliasHorizontal spacing
% Arbitrary
\hspace{1em} % 1 em
\hspace{12pt} % 12 pt
\hspace*{1em} % non-removable
% Stretch
\hfill % fill remaining horizontal space
% Math-mode spacing
\, % thin space (3/18 em)
\: % medium space (4/18 em)
\; % thick space (5/18 em)
\! % negative thin space
\quad % 1 em
\qquad % 2 emLine spacing (single, 1.5x, double)
\usepackage{setspace}
% Document-wide
\singlespacing % default
\onehalfspacing
\doublespacing
\setstretch{1.25} % arbitrary
% Apply to one block
\begin{spacing}{2.0}
This text is double-spaced.
\end{spacing}
% In document setup for thesis
\doublespacing % most theses are double-spacedParagraph spacing
% Default LaTeX: indent paragraphs, no vertical gap
% Modern look: no indent, vertical gap between paragraphs
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
\setlength{\parskip}{0.6em plus 0.1em minus 0.1em}
% The 'plus 0.1em minus 0.1em' lets LaTeX stretch/shrink
% the gap slightly to balance pages.Common reference table
| Want | Use |
|---|---|
| Small vertical gap | \smallskip |
| Medium vertical gap | \medskip |
| Big vertical gap | \bigskip |
| Custom vertical gap | \vspace{1em} |
| Push to right margin | \hfill |
| Push to bottom of page | \vfill |
| 1em horizontal in math | \quad |
| Double-spacing | \doublespacing |
| Custom line spacing | \setstretch{1.25} |
#v(1em) // vertical
#h(1em) // horizontal
#h(1fr) // stretch (fill width)
#set par(leading: 1em) // line spacing
#set block(spacing: 1em) // paragraph spacingFrequently Asked Questions
\vspace{1em} adds 1em (one font-size unit) of vertical space. \vspace{12pt} for 12 points. Inside a paragraph, use \\[12pt] for line break + extra space. For semantic sizes: \smallskip (3pt), \medskip (6pt), \bigskip (12pt) — these scale with font size.
\hspace{1em} adds 1em horizontal space. \hfill stretches to fill remaining width (like flexbox justify-end). In math mode: \quad (1em), \qquad (2em), \, (thin space), \: (medium), \; (thick), \! (negative thin).
Use the setspace package: \usepackage{setspace}. Then \singlespacing, \onehalfspacing, or \doublespacing in the preamble or document body. For arbitrary: \setstretch{1.25}. Apply to a section only: \begin{spacing}{2.0} ... \end{spacing}.
\setlength{\parskip}{1em} adds 1em between paragraphs. Default is 0pt (paragraphs only differ by first-line indent). Combined with \setlength{\parindent}{0pt} you get block-style paragraphs (no indent, with vertical separation) — the modern web look.
\vspace creates removable vertical space — LaTeX may discard it at page breaks to keep layout consistent. \vspace* creates non-removable space that persists even at page breaks. Use the starred form when you specifically need the gap to appear (rare).
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt} removes paragraph indentation globally. For one paragraph only, use \noindent at the start. Note: removing indent without adding \parskip makes paragraphs blur together visually — usually do both.
Use math-mode spacing commands: \, (thin), \: (medium), \; (thick), \! (negative thin), \quad (1em), \qquad (2em). Don't use ~ or non-breaking space in math. For aligning around equations: \\[12pt] adds extra vertical space between aligned equation lines.
Leave a blank line in your source — that creates a paragraph break. To add visible vertical space, use \vspace{1em} or one of \smallskip/\medskip/\bigskip. \\ is line break, NOT blank line — it stays in the same paragraph.
Default LaTeX uses only first-line indent (no vertical gap) to mark paragraphs. If your editor/template removed the indent without adding \parskip, paragraphs lose their separator. Fix: \setlength{\parskip}{0.5em plus 0.1em minus 0.1em} for some flexible spacing, or just set \parindent back to 1em.