By Liezl van Zyl

Why we should let go of full justification (and embrace the ragged right edge)

Clarity should never be sacrificed for symmetry. It’s time to design for people, not just for paper. If your content needs to work hard—whether it’s a contract, Ts&Cs, or a privacy notice—make it work for your reader first.

In the world of corporate and legal documents, full justification reigns supreme. We see it everywhere; perfectly aligned margins on both sides of the page, giving documents a “tidy” and “professional” feel. It looks neat. It looks deliberate. And for many professionals, especially lawyers, it’s the default.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Justified text isn’t easier to read. It’s harder.

Full justification stretches or compresses the space between words to make each line reach the right margin. That process creates uneven spacing, which disrupts the natural rhythm of reading. Your eye gets thrown off by large gaps or clumps of words. The result? A slower, more effortful reading experience, especially for readers who are already navigating complexity, language barriers, or cognitive differences.

From a user experience (UX) and readability perspective, justified text has several downsides:

  • It creates “rivers” of white space that distract the eye

  • Inconsistent word spacing makes it harder for the brain to predict the flow of text

  • Line tracking becomes tricky, increasing the risk of skipping lines

  • It’s especially challenging on screens, where line length and font rendering vary

Now let’s talk about the alternative:

Left-aligned text with a ragged right edge.

It may not look as tidy, but it’s vastly more readable. Here’s why:

  • Word spacing stays consistent, which helps the eye move smoothly from word to word

  • The ragged right edge gives subtle visual cues that support line tracking

  • It reduces cognitive load—something crucial for readers who are busy, distracted, or unfamiliar with the content

  • It supports accessibility and inclusivity for neurodivergent users, second-language readers, and people with dyslexia

In other words, left-aligned text is user-friendly text.

Clarity should never be sacrificed for symmetry. It’s time to design for people, not just for paper. If your content needs to work hard—whether it’s a contract, a T&C, or a privacy notice—make it work for your reader first.

Let go of full justification.
The ragged right edge might just be your most powerful design ally.

Want to learn more about how plain language and thoughtful formatting can transform your documents? Let’s chat.Contact us