Widow and Orphan Control
Widow and orphan control is a pagination safeguard that keeps isolated first or last lines of a paragraph from being stranded across a page break. Microsoft Word provides a dedicated Widow/Orphan control option and related keep-together settings.
Use widow/orphan control to avoid leaving a single line of a paragraph isolated at the top or bottom of a page. The exact option and default behavior are software-specific.
Key details
Further guidance
Definition
A widow or orphan is an isolated paragraph line left at a page boundary; typography terminology varies in some traditions, so focus on the practical pagination problem.
Practical Application
Use widow/orphan control in paginated documents when a paragraph’s first or last line would otherwise be stranded at the bottom or top of a page. Treat the exact software control and default as application-specific.
Reader Check
Is a lone paragraph line separated from the rest of its paragraph by a page break? If yes, use the document application’s pagination control rather than manual blank lines.
Related Controls
Use Keep with next, Keep lines together or Page break before for different pagination needs rather than relying on widow/orphan control for every layout problem.
Word Control
In Word, Widow/Orphan control is a paragraph pagination setting and is enabled by default according to Microsoft Support.
Worked Example
Example: In a report, enable the word processor’s widow/orphan control so a paragraph does not leave one line alone at the top of the next page; then recheck the final pagination after edits.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Use Line and Page Breaks settings in Word (opens in a new tab)Microsoft Support · Widow/orphan control and related pagination settings in Word