Which typography term describes the vertical space between baselines of lines of text?

• A. Kerning
• B. Leading
• C. Tracking
• D. Baseline shift

Answer: (B)

Leading describes the vertical distance from one baseline to the next in lines of text. This measure controls how much space there is between lines, affecting readability and the perceived density of the text. When you increase the leading, lines have more room to breathe, which is often helpful for body text or smaller screens. Kerning is the space between individual characters, not between lines. Tracking refers to overall letter spacing across a block of text. Baseline shift moves the baseline itself up or down, altering the position of a line relative to the grid rather than the distance between lines. So the term that specifically names the vertical space between baselines is leading.