When text is justified it means the typographic alignment, stretching and setting of a paragraph of text to both the left and right hand margins. This is also known as double justification and gives the page a ‘fuller’ look, leaving no ‘ragged’ ends. Every line (except the last) on the page will have equal width, this effect is achieved by increasing or decreasing the space between words.
When the text is stretched more than normal it is referred to as loose lines, while when it is compressed it is called tight lines.
Justification is usually found in books and magazines and is considered a sign of quality in the print world.
By: Iejaz Uddin – Updated: 18 July 2026
Should text be justified in a CV?
Text should not be justified in a CV when applying for a job in the UK. Instead, text should be left aligned as it makes the document much easier for recruiters to scan and allows the eye to naturally return to the left margin.
Recruiters strongly prefer standard left alignment for maximum readability. This is standard for most professional documents as it reduces eye fatigue, aids scanning, and improves accessibility for readers with conditions like dyslexia.
Alignment on a CV is not about aesthetics, it’s really about readability. Centre-aligned or justified text can disrupt the natural reading flow, slow readers down and also creates uneven gaps between words (often called “rivers”).
The problems with justification
Another point to take into consideration is that justification might look good on a paper CV, but in an emailed CV that is viewed on a computer screen the visual appearance may not be the same. This is because the way a justified CV looks also depends on the readers’ browser and software compatibility. In the worst case scenario on a computer screen your CV text could be spread excessively, making it look ugly and unreadable.
You should also note that the fonts that you use in your CV can also affect the appearance of justified document.
Conclusion
This really depends on the CV layout, design and also personal preference, some people like justified text whilst others do not. A good idea is to create two versions of your CV one justified and one not and then compare them both. Perhaps show them to some friends and ask their opinion. If you do decide to justify then view your CV for it’s visual appearance and compatibility in different browsers like Firefox and Chrome etc.
Another option is to only use justification for certain text in your CV as a ‘special effect’, this is an excellent way to grab the readers attention and highlight sentences in your CV.
Keep text left aligned
English is a language that is read left-to-right, meaning a left justified block of text perfectly aligns with the readers eye movement. When readers finish a line, their eyes know exactly where the next one begins. Aligned text to the left creates a straight edge on the left side of the page, ideal for paragraphs, lists, and headings.
All of this not only makes it easier for the reader to follow along, but can also help with accurate parsing by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
To achieve a clean left-aligned layout:
- CV Body text: Have a single left-aligned column with a ragged right margin for the entire body of text.
- Headings: Align your headers and section titles to the left as well.
- Dates and locations: Put job titles and company names on the left as well.
- Bullet points: Have these flush left with your main text.
PDF document
After creating a MS Word document then lock in your left alignments for good by saving your CV as a PDF file.
Advantages of left aligned text
Hiring managers hunt for words and information in your CV, this is hard when every line starts in a different place. When you have a consistent starting point for every sentence you make it easier for them to scan and read what you’ve written. This makes it easier to find the start and finish of each line and ensures even spacing between words. This not only helps them but also creates an immediate better impression of you.
- Better Word Spacing: Left alignment also maintains uniform, consistent spacing between words (unlike fully justified text).
- Smoother reading: Left alignment makes reading faster and smoother, making it suitable for the continuous reading of articles, blog posts, and long paragraphs.
What is justified text
It is a paragraph format in which the page text is aligned evenly along both the left and right margins. It creates a rectangular same length block of text. The white spacing between words and characters is adjusted (stretched or squeezed) so that both the left and right edges align perfectly with the margins. If a line is too short, and has uneven or ‘ragged’ edges to it, the software stretches it by adding extra white space to fill the entire horizontal space.
All in all, it gives documents a clean, formal, and box-like appearance.
How to justify text
There are a number of ways you can do this.
- Microsoft Word: Click anywhere in the paragraph, or press Ctrl + A to select all text. Go to the Home tab, click the Justify icon in the Paragraph group.
- Microsoft Word: You can justify text by pressing Ctrl + J on Windows.
- Google Docs: Select your text, click the Align icon in the top toolbar, and choose Full Justify.
Advantages of text justification
It provides a highly structured and formal appearance as well as maximizing space efficiency in multi-column layouts. By creating a crisp, symmetrical, and blocky appearance, it’s a popular choice for magazines, and official documents like contracts.
- Who uses it: Mostly used by people in Print Media, such writers of books, newspapers, and academic journals to fit more words per page and maintain a neat layout.
- When to use it: Should only be used sparingly on short pieces of content.
- CV heading: Your CV heading, which normally consists of your name and contact information, can be centre-aligned if you like.
- Space Efficiency: It allows writers to pack more copy into a specific area like a narrow newspaper column or a brochure.
Problems with justification
Awkward gaps can appear between the words on any given line. It also reduces comprehension for readers with dyslexia, low vision and cognitive disabilities. The British Dyslexia Association say justified text is bad practice as lines that have been stretched or condensed can create distracting gaps affecting a documents readability.
Related links: