Understanding Arabic letter spacing

See how spacing affects clarity and balance, and how our lines help you get it right.

Letters are not islands

Most Arabic letters change shape depending on what sits either side of them. Spacing is not decoration; it is part of how the word is read.

The dot problem

Dots distinguish letters that are otherwise identical. When lines are tight, dots drift towards the wrong letter and meaning goes with them.

Give the line its full height

The most common beginner habit is writing Arabic at Latin scale. Use the whole line and the proportions correct themselves.