What is a manual line break at the insertion point?

In text editing or word processing, a manual line break (also known as a hard line break or forced line break) allows the user to insert a line break at a specific point in the text, overriding the automatic word wrap feature. When typing, simply pressing the Enter or Return key typically starts a new paragraph, which includes formatting for paragraph spacing in addition to a line break. On the other hand, a manual line break forces the text to break into a new line without affecting paragraph formatting or starting a new paragraph.

To insert a manual line break in various applications:

* Windows and Web Browsers: Press Shift + Enter.

* macOS: Press Ctrl + Enter.

* Markdown Editors (like GitHub, Reddit): Use two spaces (" ") at the end of the line where you want to break, or two backslashes followed by a carriage return ("\\").

Manual line breaks are useful in various situations:

* Creating multi-line headings or titles.

* Formatting poetry, lyrics, or other text-based art.

* Creating bulleted or numbered lists with consistent line separation.

* Controlling text positioning in tables or other structured layouts.

* Breaking long URLs or code snippets to improve readability.

Remember, it's important to use manual line breaks sparingly and for specific formatting purposes, as excessive line breaks can disrupt the flow of text and make it visually cluttered. Many word processors also offer more sophisticated alternatives for formatting, such as using styles, tabs, or text boxes.