A shared edge makes separate items easier to scan. Repeated positions help readers compare without searching for the next piece. Alignment is useful when it reduces effort, not merely when it looks tidy.

FIG. 04 / Three details, without a shared structure
  • 01 — Stone — solid
  • 02 — Leaf — light
  • 03 — Glass — clear
FIG. 05 / The same details, with places to return to
  • 01StoneSolid
  • 02LeafLight
  • 03GlassClear

Build a rhythm, not a cage.

Consistent positions let the reader learn a page once. The next title, date or measurement is easier to find because its position is familiar. This is especially helpful when the information itself changes from row to row.

Not everything needs to share the same edge. A title can step outside a column to introduce a new section. What matters is that the change explains something rather than adding another place to search.