What does interline mean?
Interline means to place a line, note, or other material between lines that already exist. The word is most closely associated with editorial work, where a translator's comments, corrections, or annotations may be written between the lines of a manuscript, and with typography or music, where markings are inserted between lines of text or staves. Its additional sense of arranging material in lines is less common but occurs in formal and historical descriptions. Although the basic idea may be familiar from marginal notes and interleaved manuscripts, interline is a precise, relatively uncommon verb rather than a general term for adding any kind of annotation. It is also easily confused with underline, which places a line below text, and with interlinear, which usually describes an arrangement rather than naming the act of inserting lines.
verbTo insert a line between existing lines of text, writing, or musical notation. In typography and editorial work, it can also mean to arrange material in lines or to write or print something between lines.
- To insert a line between existing lines of text, writing, or musical notation.
- To write or print something between lines.
- To arrange text or other material in lines, especially as an editorial or typographical action.
"The editor asked the designer to interline the passage with explanatory notes."
"The manuscript was interlined with the translator's comments."
"In the musical score, the conductor's instructions are interlined between the staves."
From Latin, interline literally means “to line between”: it is the editorial term for adding a line where there was no space for one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of interline
The word is built on Latin inter-, meaning “between,” and linea, meaning “line.” Its development reflects the Latinate vocabulary of printing, writing, and editorial practice. Related English words such as interlinear and interlineation preserve the same idea of material situated between lines, while linear and alignment continue the wider lineage of Latin linea.
Related word forms
How interline is actually used
Relatively uncommon and specialized, especially in editing, typography, palaeography, and music. In modern general writing, it is more often encountered in historical descriptions of manuscripts than in everyday speech.
Easily confused with interline
Interlinear describes something placed or written between lines, while interline is the verb for inserting lines or material between existing lines.
Underline places a line beneath text, whereas interline places a line or material between lines.