What impact does removing widow/orphan control have on the layout of a transcript?

Removing widow/orphan control from the layout of a transcript can indeed reduce the likelihood of awkward text breaks between pages. Widow/orphan control is a formatting feature that prevents single lines of a paragraph (widows) from appearing at the beginning of a page and keeps the last line of a paragraph (orphan) from being isolated at the top of a page.

By eliminating this control, there is greater flexibility in how text is distributed across pages. This can lead to paragraphs being split more evenly, where entire sections of text can flow more naturally from one page to the next without the risk of ending up with a situation where a single line is stranded. This control helps maintain the visual fluidity of reading, ensuring that readers do not encounter abrupt breaks in thoughts or dialogue, which is especially crucial in transcripts where context and continuity are essential for comprehension.

In contrast, while readability may be enhanced or decreased depending on other formatting decisions, the main effect of removing widow/orphan control relates directly to the flow of text and layout. This understanding clarifies why the other options do not accurately describe the primary impact of such a formatting choice.