LaTeX error · Environments, lists and tables

LaTeX Error: There's no line here to end.

The error in the log

This is how the message appears in the .log file (and in the compile output). The line starting with l. is the line number where TeX noticed the problem; the real mistake is there or just before it.

! LaTeX Error: There's no line here to end.

See the LaTeX manual or LaTeX Companion for explanation.
Type  H <return>  for immediate help.
 ...

l.6 S
     econd paragraph after some extra space.

Why it happens

• \\ on its own line after a blank line, used to add extra space between paragraphs.
• \\ right after \end{itemize}, \end{figure}, \maketitle or a display equation, where the paragraph has already ended.
• \\ directly after \begin{center}, \begin{flushleft} or at the start of a \parbox or minipage before any text.

How to fix it

Delete the \\ and use a blank line to start a new paragraph. For extra space write \vspace{\baselineskip}, \medskip or \bigskip on a line of its own.

If you want the whole document to have space between paragraphs, use the parskip package instead of manual breaks.

Broken: reproduces the error

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
First paragraph.

\\
Second paragraph after some extra space.
\end{document}

Fixed: compiles cleanly

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
First paragraph.

\bigskip
Second paragraph after some extra space.
\end{document}

Related errors

• Perhaps a missing \item – Text inside a list before the first \item, or an empty bibliography or list.
• Overfull \hbox – A line could not be broken and sticks out into the right margin.
• Not in outer par mode – A figure, table or \marginpar inside a box, minipage or table cell.
• All LaTeX errors and warnings – The full list, grouped by cause

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a blank line between paragraphs in LaTeX?

Leave a blank line in the source to start a new paragraph, then add space with \medskip, \bigskip or \vspace{1em}. For space between all paragraphs, load \usepackage{parskip}.

Why is the error reported on the next line, not on the \\?

\\ looks ahead to check for a * or an optional [...] argument before acting, so the l. line in the log shows the first character after it.

Can I use \\ after \end{itemize}?

No. After a list LaTeX is between paragraphs, so there is no line to end. Use a blank line or \vspace there instead.