Songs

Lyrics Of Songs

Proper formatting of song lyrics enhances clarity, professionalism, and ease of use for readers and collaborators[1]. Label important song sections (such as chorus or bridge) clearly and consistently—often in bold to distinguish them—and ensure each lyric line starts with a capital letter[1]. Verses, choruses, and bridges should be visually separated, often with line breaks or indentation[1]. While some lyric sheets label every section explicitly, many professionals only label the chorus and let the melody or layout signal other sections[3].

Lyric lines must generally follow these rules:

  • No periods or commas at the end of lyric lines; only exclamation points, question marks, or quotation marks should be used at line endings when absolutely necessary[2].
  • Each new stanza should be separated with a double space and labeled if appropriate[2].
  • Capitalization should follow standard grammar: every line begins with a capital letter, proper nouns and acronyms are capitalized, as are geographical locations and brands; some styles also use title case for song titles[2][5].
  • Use simple, readable fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica to avoid distracting the reader[3].
  • Avoid unnecessary headers (like “Verse 1” or “Verse 2”) unless clarity requires them, but always label the chorus. Some writers prefer to place “[Chorus]” or bold “Chorus” for repeating sections[3][6].
  • Maintain a single-spaced format within stanzas and double space between stanzas[2][5].

Additional suggestions include indenting choruses for quick identification, keeping writers’ names and rights information at the top (for professional submissions), and omitting details such as performance data or studio names[4][6].

References

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