It can can be used to write horizontally (yokogaki) or vertically (tategaki)
Correct use of genkō yōshi (400 square sheet shown):
- Title on the 1st column, first character in the 4th square.
- Author's name on the 2nd column, with 1 square between the family name and the given name, and 1 empty square below.
- First sentence of the essay begins on the 3rd column, in the 2nd square. Each new paragraph begins on the 2nd square.
- Subheadings have 1 empty column before and after, and begin on the 3rd square of a new column.
- Punctuation marks normally occupy their own square, except when they will occur at the top of a column, in which case they share a square with the last character of the previous column.
The paper comes in two variations,
paper with
1. 400 squares per page or
2. 200 squares per page and 20 squares per line.