TL;DR
In Gmail, pressing Enter adds a line break in the compose window. Gmail's default formatting adds spacing between paragraphs automatically. If you want a tighter line break without the extra space, use Shift and Enter to insert a line break without a paragraph gap.
How to Add Line Breaks in Gmail
Gmail's compose window works like a basic word processor, so line breaks behave mostly as you would expect. The one thing that catches people out is that Enter creates a paragraph break with spacing, while Shift and Enter gives you a tighter line break without the gap. Depending on what you are writing, one is more appropriate than the other.
Using Enter for Paragraphs
Pressing Enter in Gmail ends the current paragraph and starts a new one with some vertical spacing between them. This is the standard way to separate paragraphs in an email. The spacing between paragraphs is added automatically by Gmail's formatting and makes the email more readable.
Using Shift and Enter for Tight Line Breaks
Pressing Shift and Enter inserts a line break without the paragraph spacing. The next line starts immediately below the current one with no gap. This is useful for things like addresses, lists formatted without bullet points, or any content where you want lines close together without paragraph spacing between them.
Removing Extra Spacing Between Paragraphs
If Gmail's automatic paragraph spacing bothers you, you can reduce it. Some users switch Gmail to plain text mode using the More Options menu in the compose window. Plain text mode removes formatting and paragraph spacing, giving you a simple line break on each Enter press.
Line Breaks When Replying
When replying to an email in Gmail, line breaks in the compose area work the same way. The quoted text from the original email appears below your reply and your formatting applies to your typed content. Use Enter for paragraphs and Shift and Enter for tight line breaks as needed.
The Enter versus Shift and Enter distinction in Gmail is worth knowing for professional emails where tight formatting matters. For most regular emails, plain Enter between paragraphs with the default spacing looks clean and readable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Gmail add extra space between my paragraphs?
Gmail applies CSS styling that adds margin below each paragraph element. This is standard email formatting behavior. Use Shift and Enter if you need lines without the extra gap.
Can I remove all paragraph spacing in Gmail compose?
Switching to plain text mode removes the rich text formatting including paragraph spacing. Find this option in the three dot menu at the bottom of the compose window.
Do Gmail line breaks look the same to everyone who receives the email?
The appearance depends on the recipient's email client. Most modern email clients render HTML emails with the same paragraph spacing. Plain text recipients see line breaks as literal newlines.
How do I add a blank line between sections in a Gmail email?
Press Enter twice to add a blank line between paragraphs. The first Enter ends the paragraph and the second creates an empty paragraph that acts as a spacer.
Can I paste text with line breaks into Gmail?
Yes. Copied text with line breaks usually pastes into Gmail with the formatting preserved. If the spacing looks wrong after pasting, you can adjust it manually.