Last line of paragraph always lower (line spacing is higher)

[Guest]

I often had this problem with InDesign CS3 (and I think CS2 also).
When composing a paragraph in InDesign, the last line will often be further away,
is that a known issue about InDesign. I checked the paragraph option (space afters, space befores, etc) and there is nothing: All line in the paragraph have the same characteristics.
There are no characters in subscript or superscript mode.

What could cause that?

Thank you

Louis

G5, Leopard, Suitcase X1, Creative Suite CS3.

[macpawel]

The last character is Enter (or spaca and Enter)

If you select only text, you omit space (ond or/Enter)

Then if you aply leading for selected text - last character remeins his attributes (also leading).

Just select entire Paragraph as they said above

macpawel

[rob day]

Just select entire Paragraph as they said above

If the Apply Leading to Entire Paragraph preference is checked all you need is to have the cursor somewhere in the paragraph and you'll get uniform leading (assuming there's not a character style with different leading somewhere in the paragraph).

[splambo]

BobLevine's suggestion was right for me.

Just select the entire line that's giving you trouble by double clicking on it. That will include the faulty return. Once selected, change your Leading in the Character Window.

[janetgg]

This does not work. I have no extra large returns. Leading is even across. This is happening all the time.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

In my experience (based mostly on importing Word files), most of what's presented here is the cause of nearly all of the instances of this problem. If you get this weird "dropped last line" fault:

1. Make absolutely certain the faulty paragraph ends with a hard return.
2. Make sure there are no extraneous characters or returns (hard, soft or automatic) between this paragraph and the next one (which will often be on the next page).
3. Select the whole faulty paragraph and re/apply the style, clearing all overrides. (Reapply things like italics or other character formats; it's better to completely clear the settings and start over rather than to try and be too selective.)
4. Do the same for the following paragraph.

This fixes the problem nearly every time, with the exception being some that have the "Apply Leading to Entire Paragraph" setting unchecked.

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[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I agree with @James Gifford—NitroPress --especially with point #3. 

A click-and-drag selection often does not select the paragraph return; even harder if they are not visible. I like to click 4 times to select the entire paragraph--also, make not to use auto leading. Using paragraph styles avoids many issues.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Absolutely, use the 4-click method to select paragraphs (really, over any other, in all cases).

A sledgehammer approach would be to drag-select all three paragraphs (prior, problem, following) and do the full styles clearing, then reformat. I've found stubborn cases where that works, sometimes by exposing really hidden/overridden text.

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[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Just a tip (for others) ...

If one quadruple-clicks on the first paragraph and keeps the mouse button down on the 4th click, one can drag-select entire paragraphs. The paragraphs are selected as soon as one's mouse "touches" the paragraph, even if the paragraph continues the next page. It can take a little practice to hold after the four clicks. (Note: five clicks is the same as a Select All, so if one's finger overshoots the mark, you will have to start over.)

This works for 2-click word selection too.

[janetgg]

OK, I think you all helped. There was a paragraph return that had a different leading. I have no idea why. That fixed 2 paragraphs. The other issue was trying to get whole paragraph selected. Honestly. I cut it all out and pasted into a new text box. Did all the clearing hidden objects etc. and I think I am there. I still don't understand how it happened as I had made a template from this original and it was not happening. So somehow the last line paragraph return was giving the issue. Thanks.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

It's usually caused by an editing flub, which Word... promotes. You delete the end of a paragraph, the prior paragraph joins it, and even if you hit return you still have that fragmentary style attached to the first paragraph. And that's the simple scenario. "Forget it, Jack. It's Word." 🙂

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[SJRiegel]

Can you share a link to a file that has this problem?