Definition

Noun: A unit of measurement in printing and advertising, specifically representing the space for one line of text that is one column wide and 1/14 of an inch in depth.

Usage

This term is used to calculate the cost or size of printed advertisements, particularly in newspapers and magazines. It measures the area an ad occupies by its depth in lines.

Examples

• The advertisement cost was calculated at $15 per agate line.
• The classified ad was 10 agate lines long.
• To estimate the price, multiply the number of agate lines by the line rate.

Advanced Usage

• "Per agate line rate": The standard pricing model in print advertising.
  • The newspaper's per agate line rate has increased this year.
• Used historically and in specific publishing contexts; modern digital advertising often uses different metrics.

Variants and Related Words

• Column inch: A related but larger unit of area measurement (one column wide by one inch deep). An agate line is 1/14 of a column inch.
• Lineage: Refers to advertising revenue or space measured in agate lines.

Synonyms

• Print line (context-specific)
• Advertising line (context-specific)

Notes

This is a specialized term from traditional print media. While still understood in publishing and advertising industries, its practical use has declined with the rise of digital media.

Noun

1. space for one line of print (one column wide and 1/14 inch deep) used to measure advertising