How to Start a New Line in LaTeX

Use \\ (or \newline) to end a line and continue on the next one in the same paragraph. Leave a blank line in the source to start a new paragraph, which is usually what you want for running text. \\[6pt] adds extra vertical space after the break.

Try it live Open in editor Have it as an image? Convert it to LaTeX

Line and paragraph breaks

\\
Text mode, no math preview
Line break inside the paragraph; also ends rows in tables and equations.
\newline
Text mode, no math preview
Same as \\ in text; not allowed in tables and equations.
(blank line)
Text mode, no math preview
New paragraph, with the usual indent or paragraph space.
\par
Text mode, no math preview
New paragraph without a blank line (handy in macros).
\\[6pt]
Text mode, no math preview
Line break plus 6 pt of extra space.
\linebreak
Text mode, no math preview
Break here but keep the line justified (stretches the spaces).

Try it live

Change the formula and the preview redraws as you type. Copy the LaTeX, download a PNG or SVG, copy it for Word, or use Edit here on any example below to load it.

LaTeX

Templates

SizeColorTransparent background

New line and line break examples

Each result below is drawn from the LaTeX under it. Copy the code, edit it on this page, or open it in the full editor.

Breaking an equation over lines
$\begin{aligned} (a + b)^{2} & = (a + b) (a + b) \\ = a^{2} + 2 a b + b^{2} \end{aligned}$
LaTeX
```
\begin{aligned} (a + b)^2 &= (a + b)(a + b) \\ &= a^2 + 2ab + b^2 \end{aligned}
```
Edit here Open in editor
Extra space between lines
$\begin{aligned} x & = 1 \\ y & = 2 \end{aligned}$
LaTeX
```
\begin{aligned} x &= 1 \\[8pt] y &= 2 \end{aligned}
```
Edit here Open in editor
Stacked lines without alignment
$\begin{matrix} x + y = 5 \\ x - y = 1 \end{matrix}$
LaTeX
```
\begin{gathered} x + y = 5 \\ x - y = 1 \end{gathered}
```
Edit here Open in editor

In a LaTeX document

These commands work in the text of a .tex document (Overleaf, TeX Live, MiKTeX), not inside math. The box on the right shows what the compiled PDF looks like.

Line break inside a paragraph
LaTeX
```
Jane Doe\\
Department of Mathematics\\
Example University
```
Compiled result
Jane Doe
Department of Mathematics
Example University
New paragraph with a blank line
LaTeX
```
This is the first paragraph.

This is the second paragraph.
```
Compiled result
This is the first paragraph.
This is the second paragraph.
Paragraph spacing instead of indents
LaTeX
```
\usepackage{parskip}
...
First paragraph.

Second paragraph, separated by space.
```
Compiled result
First paragraph.

Second paragraph, separated by space.

\\ or a new paragraph

A blank line starts a new paragraph: LaTeX indents it (or adds space with parskip) and treats it as a new unit of text. \\ only moves to the next line inside the same paragraph, which suits addresses, poems and title blocks. Using \\ to separate paragraphs gives the "Underfull \hbox" warnings and wrong spacing.

"There's no line here to end"

This error appears when \\ comes where no line has started, for example right after a section title, at the start of a paragraph or twice in a row for vertical space. Use \vspace{1em} or a blank line instead.

Inside equations, \\ only works in environments that have rows: aligned, gathered, align, multline, cases and matrices. A single equation or $$ … $$ cannot be broken with \\.

Common mistakes

Double \\ for space causes "There's no line here to end"; use a blank line.
Instead of
```
Paragraph one.\\\\ Paragraph two.
```
Write
```
Paragraph one.

Paragraph two.
```
Nothing to end after a heading; LaTeX already starts a new line.
Instead of
```
\section{Intro}\\
```
Write
```
\section{Intro}
```
Plain display math has one line; use an environment with rows.
Instead of
```
$$ a = b \\ c = d $$
```
Write
```
\begin{aligned} a &= b \\ c &= d \end{aligned}
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
All commands work without packages; \usepackage{parskip} switches to space between paragraphs.
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax and KaTeX support \\ inside aligned, gathered, cases and matrices. In Markdown, a line break in text is two trailing spaces or a blank line, not \\.
Microsoft Word
In Word, Enter starts a paragraph and Shift+Enter a line break. In an equation, Shift+Enter breaks the equation inside the same math zone.

Already have the whole document?

Move complete papers between PDF, Word and LaTeX without retyping; every equation stays editable.

Single printed formulas are free: 3 a day without an account, 6 with a free account. New accounts get 30 credits to try handwriting, pages and documents; failed conversions return their credits. See plans and credit prices.

New line and line break in LaTeX: questions

How do I start a new line in LaTeX?: Use \\ or \newline. For a new paragraph, leave a blank line.
What is the difference between \\ and \newline?: In text they do the same. Only \\ works in tables and equations, and it accepts extra space like \\[6pt].
How do I break a long equation onto two lines?: Put it in aligned or multline and use \\ where the line should break.

Related LaTeX reference

Have the formula as a picture?

Paste a screenshot or photo of the equation and get its LaTeX, ready to copy or open in the editor.

Convert an image to LaTeX

How to Start a New Line in LaTeX

Line and paragraph breaks

Try it live

New line and line break examples

Breaking an equation over lines

Extra space between lines

Stacked lines without alignment

In a LaTeX document

Line break inside a paragraph

New paragraph with a blank line

Paragraph spacing instead of indents