spacing

spacing — noun

1. the amount of empty space left between lines of text, individual words, or other

1.nounB1
Definition

the amount of empty space left between lines of text, individual words, or other elements on a page or screen

Example

The editor asked Lara to widen the line spacing in the report for easier reading.

collocation: line spacing

This document uses single spacing between paragraphs, so the text looks crowded.

collocation: single spacing

Common collocations
  • line spacing
  • double spacing
  • single spacing
  • character spacing
  • word spacing
  • tight spacing
  • wide spacing
  • text spacing
Synonyms
  • space

    more general; can refer to any empty area rather than the measured arrangement between elements

  • gap

    emphasises an opening between two specific items rather than an overall layout parameter

Grammar Patterns

spacing + [adjective]

spacing + between + [plural noun]

spacing + of + [noun]

Usage Note

Frequently paired with adjectives such as single, double, wide, narrow, or tight. In word-processing contexts, spacing by itself usually refers to line spacing unless another type is specified.

Common Mistakes

I need to check the space between the lines.
I need to check the spacing between the lines.
In publishing and design, spacing is the standard noun for measurable gaps between elements.
The spacing is too huge.
The spacing is too wide.
Wide and narrow are the conventional adjectives for spacing; huge is not idiomatic in this context.

2. in team ball games, how far apart teammates stand from one another to give the o

2.nounB2
Definition

in team ball games, how far apart teammates stand from one another to give the offence room to pass, shoot, or drive toward the goal

Example

Coach Ellis told the team that proper spacing opens passing lanes in the zone defence.

sports terminology: spacing used tactically

The point guard dribbled while the forwards maintained wide spacing near the three-point line.

Common collocations
  • good spacing
  • poor spacing
  • offensive spacing
  • floor spacing
  • spacing on the court
  • team spacing
Synonyms
  • positioning

    broader term covering where each player stands; spacing specifically names the distance between players

  • court balance

    refers to the overall distribution of players, which depends on proper spacing

Grammar Patterns

spacing + on + the + [court/field]

spacing + between + [players]

Usage Note

In basketball, spacing is a core tactical principle. Good spacing forces the defence to guard a wider area, creating opportunities for the offence. The term is also used in soccer, rugby, and other field sports.

3. how long is purposely left between repeating events or planned activities

3.nounB2
Definition

how long is purposely left between repeating events or planned activities

Example

The training programme requires a spacing of at least 48 hours between intense weightlifting sessions.

spacing + of + time period

Zayd planned the spacing of his study sessions to avoid burnout before final exams.

Common collocations
  • spacing between sessions
  • spacing of doses
  • regular spacing
  • appropriate spacing
  • time spacing
  • proper spacing
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

spacing + between + [events]

spacing + of + [time period]

Usage Note

Common in scheduling, fitness plans, medical dosing, and manufacturing cycles. Unlike interval, which can describe a naturally recurring gap, spacing implies that the gaps have been set on purpose.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Spacing, space, gap, and margin all refer to empty areas between things, but each word fits a different situation. Spacing is the most precise term in layout and design — it describes the measurable distance between printed or on-screen elements such as lines of text, words, or images. Space is much more general and can refer to any empty area (open space, parking space) or the abstract concept of extension. Gap suggests an opening or break between two objects, often implying something is missing or incomplete. Margin is the blank strip along the edge of a page — it is not positioned between internal elements. For example, a designer might adjust the line spacing to improve readability, widen the margins to leave room for handwritten notes, and reduce the gap between two photographs to create a seamless look.

spacing ↗space ↗gap ↗margin ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • adjust the spacing
  • check the spacing
  • change the spacing
  • maintain spacing

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The noun spacing comes from the verb 'space', which was borrowed from Old French 'espacier' (to make room), itself from Latin 'spatium', meaning a room, area, or distance. 'Space' entered English around the 1300s, and the noun 'spacing' appeared in the 1600s, originally referring to the physical arrangement of objects. By the 1800s it became the standard term in printing for gaps between words and lines. The sports and scheduling uses developed in the 1900s as specialists needed a word for deliberate distances between players or events.