Jumplines help keep your readers engaged and provide a convenient map to content in which your reader has already invested some time and interest. They’re an effective, established element of standard design for newspapers, magazines, and newsletters.
Designing With Jumplines
To keep the jumplines from being read as part of the article, they should contrast with the body text but remain unobtrusive. Try some of these format options (or combine a few of them) for jumplines in newspaper, magazine, or newsletter design layouts.
Italics: continued on page 25Boldface: continued on page 25A color that contrasts with the body textA font that contrasts with the body text (for example, sans serif font with serif body text or vice versa)A smaller font: continued on page 25Parentheses: (continued on page 25)
Positioning is another way to set apart your jumplines.
Right-align the jumplines on the same line as (or on the line below) the article’s last line on the page. Allow sufficient typographic contrast and/or space between the text and jumplines. Example: last line. continued on page 3Left-align “continued from” jumplines at the top of the continued articles. Again, allow sufficient typographic contrast and/or space between the headlines, jumplines, and body text. Example:(continued from page 8)more of the article continued here*continuation heads are those bits of headlines sometimes used at the top of continued articles to identify the article, especially when multiple articles appear on the same page.
When an article continues on the following page, you might:
Omit the page number and use “continued on next page,” or omit the jumpline altogether if it’s obvious that the article continues on the next page.Use some other indicator such as an arrow.Forego the jumpline altogether for a two-page spread.
Be Consistent
Whatever style you choose, use it throughout your publication. Set up and use jumpline paragraph styles in your page layout software to maintain consistency in fonts, spacing, and alignment. When proofreading, always verify the page numbers in the continuation lines. Make it easy for readers to keep reading.
More About Newsletter Layout and Design
What Is the Masthead of a Publication? What Is a Deck in Page Layout? What Is the Gutter in a Page Layout?
