New Line in LaTeX

Use \\ for a line break, or a blank line between paragraphs.

Quick Answer

latex

First line.\\
Second line.

This is a new paragraph.

New Paragraphs

In LaTeX, a blank line between two blocks of text creates a new paragraph. This is the standard and most readable way to separate paragraphs.

latex

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}

This is the first paragraph. LaTeX automatically
handles indentation and spacing.

This is the second paragraph. Multiple blank lines
between paragraphs have the same effect as one.

\end{document}

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Forced Line Break: \\

The \\ command forces a line break at that point without starting a new paragraph. Use it for addresses, verse, or anywhere you need precise line control.

latex

Oliver Wolf\\
Nohfelden, Germany\\
info@monsterwriter.app

You can also write \newline — it's equivalent to \\ in most contexts.

Multiple Line Breaks

Stack \\ to add multiple blank lines. Alternatively, use \vspace{} for precise vertical spacing.

latex

Some text.\\ \\ \\
Text after three blank lines.

% Or with explicit spacing:
Some text.
\vspace{2cm}
Text after 2 cm of space.

Avoid overusing line breaks. LaTeX is designed for document-level formatting. Piling up \\ or blank lines to push content around leads to layout problems later. Use \vspace or structural commands instead.

Line Breaks in Tables and Math

latex

% In tables, \\ ends the row:
\begin{tabular}{ll}
  Column A & Column B \\
  Value 1  & Value 2  \\
\end{tabular}

% In aligned math environments:
\begin{align}
  f(x) &= x^2 + 2x + 1 \\
       &= (x + 1)^2
\end{align}

New Line in LaTeX

New Paragraphs

Forced Line Break: \\

Multiple Line Breaks

Line Breaks in Tables and Math

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