Abstract: Text in a document is formatted. Bounding shapes are placed around each word in the text. A first word is situated in a first valid location within a page. Subsequent words are situated in subsequent valid locations on the page. Once any word is situated, a bounding shape for the word sets out an area invalid for additional word placement. For example, space characters are merged with a following word. The first word is placed in a first location on the page. When the first location is invalid for text, the first word is moved to a next location (i.e., additional next locations if necessary) until the first word is placed in the first valid location. A subsequent word is placed in a next location. When the next location is invalid for text, the subsequent word is moved to a next location until the subsequent word is placed in a valid location. This is repeated for each subsequent word until there are no more subsequent words to place. For example, the next location is at an end of a previous word.