What are Orphans?
Orphans refer to single words or short lines that appear at the beginning of a new column or page, separated from the rest of the paragraph. This typographic issue often disrupts the visual flow of text and can create awkward gaps, detracting from the overall readability and aesthetic of the design. Orphans typically occur when a paragraph is split across pages or columns, resulting in the last line of a paragraph being left alone at the top of the next column or page.
To maintain a professional and polished look, designers and typographers strive to avoid or minimize orphans. This can be achieved by adjusting the text layout, adjusting line spacing, or slightly altering the content to ensure that paragraphs are more evenly distributed. Proper handling of orphans helps in creating a more cohesive and visually pleasing reading experience.