Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a serial printer of the invention selects a first digit character by counting a predetermined number of timing pulses that starts to be generated during carriage return and sets the predetermined number so as to correspond to the character to be printed and the number of digits printed in a last line. The apparatus may include a time measuring device, and selects a first digit character to be printed in succession to a last line by measuring a predetermined carriage return time and sets the predetermined carriage return time so as to correspond to the character to be printed and the number of digits printed in the last line. The apparatus also may include a timing pulse interval detector, and a first digit character is selected after the selection of a character group by counting a predetermined number of timing pulses and the predetermined number is set so as to correspond to the character to be printed and the number of digits printed in the last line.