Línea vs. renglón
The Spanish words 'línea' and 'renglón' both translate to 'line' in English, but they are used in slightly different contexts. Understanding the nuances of these words can help in choosing the right one for various situations.
Línea
'Línea' generally refers to a line in a broader sense - it can be a line on a map, a straight mark, a guideline, or even a line of people. In text, 'línea' can be used to refer to lines of text or poetry.
Ella escribió su dirección en la línea superior del formulario.
(She wrote her address on the top line of the form.)
El poema tiene cinco líneas en total.
(The poem has five lines in total.)
Por favor, sigan la línea roja en el mapa.
(Please follow the red line on the map.)
Renglón
'Renglón' is more specific to lines of text within documents, writings, books, or similar media. It usually denotes a single row of written or printed words.
El profesor pidió que escribiéramos nuestros nombres en el primer renglón.
(The teacher asked us to write our names on the first line.)
Este párrafo necesita otro renglón más para que se entienda mejor.
(This paragraph needs another line (of text) to make it clearer.)
Saltó tres renglones por error mientras leía.
(He skipped three lines by mistake while reading.)
Summary
In summary, 'línea' has a broader application and can refer to any type of line, including graphical lines and lines in poems. 'Renglón', on the other hand, is specifically used for rows of written or printed text within documents.