Abstract: A method of conveying sheets by displacing in a sheet-conveying direction an upermost sheet of a pile of sheets having a contact surface of given length includes linearly lifting the sheet at a trailing edge thereof, briefly opening periodically and successively suction-air openings disposed above the pile of sheets in the sheet-conveying direction so as to form a wave crest running through the sheet starting from the trailing edge thereof and moving the sheet a displacement distance in the sheet-conveying direction in a plane relative to a top surface of the pile of sheets. The displacement distance corresponds to an amount by which the length of the sheet contact surface is shortened by the formation of the wave crest. A device is also provided for performing the method.