End-stopped line

An end-stopped line is a line of poetry that ends where a phrase or sentence ends, so the pause in the sense matches the line break.

Pope's couplet has two end-stopped lines. Each ends on a punctuation mark and a complete thought.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest.

Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Man", 1733

What it is

An end-stopped line gives the reader a full stop at the end. The sense and the line arrive together, which makes the verse feel steady and measured. Its opposite is enjambment. Most poems mix both.

Why it matters to a writer or editor

A long run of end-stopped lines can sound like a list or a drum. A long run of enjambed lines can sound breathless. Checking the balance is a quick way to hear whether a poem has any variety in its pace.

Frequently asked questions

What is the opposite of an end-stopped line?

An enjambed line, which runs on past the line break without a pause.