UK TeX FAQ -- question label linespread

### Why doesn’t `\``linespread` work?

The command `\``linespread{`factor`}` is supposed to multiply the current `\``baselineskip` by <factor>; but, to all appearances, it doesn’t.

In fact, the command is equivalent to `\``renewcommand{`\``baselinestretch`}{factor}`: written that way, it somehow feels less surprising that the effect isn’t immediate. The `\``baselinestretch` factor is only used when a font is selected; a mere change of `\``baselinestretch` doesn’t change the font, any more than does the command `\``fontsize{`size`}{`baselineskip`}` — you have to follow either command with `\``selectfont`. So:

>     \fontsize{10}{12}%
>     \selectfont

or:

>     \linespread{1.2}%
>     \selectfont

Of course, a package such as setspace, whose job is to manage the baseline, will deal with all this stuff — see “managing double-spaced documents”. If you want to avoid setspace, beware the behaviour of linespread changes within a paragraph: read “`\``baselineskip` is a paragraph parameter”.

`setspace.sty`
  macros/latex/contrib/setspace/setspace.sty

This question on the Web: http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=linespread