+@unnumberedsubsubsec Spacing of non-staff lines
+
+After the positions of the staves are determined, the non-staff lines
+are distributed between the staves. Each of these lines has a
+@var{staff-affinity} property which controls its vertical alignment.
+For example,
+
+@example
+\new Lyrics \with @{ \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #DOWN @}
+@end example
+
+@noindent creates a lyrics context that will be placed close to the
+staff below it. Setting @var{staff-affinity} to something which is not
+a number (@code{#f}, for example) will cause that line to be treated
+like a staff. Conversely, setting @var{staff-affinity} for a staff will
+cause it to be treated like a non-staff.
+
+Non-staff lines admit three properties to control their spacing. Each
+of the these properties is an alist of the same format as
+@var{next-staff-spacing}, above.
+@itemize
+@item
+If the nearest line in the @var{staff-affinity} direction is a staff
+then @var{inter-staff-spacing} gives the spacing between the non-staff
+and the staff. If @var{staff-affinity} is @code{CENTER}, then
+@var{inter-staff-spacing} is used for both directions.
+
+@item
+If the nearest line in the @var{staff-affinity} direction is a non-staff
+then @var{inter-loose-line-spacing} gives the spacing between the two
+non-staff lines.
+
+@item
+If the nearest line in the opposite direction to @var{staff-affinity} is
+a staff then @var{non-affinity-spacing} gives the spacing between the
+non-staff and the staff. This can be used, for example, to require
+a minimum amount of padding between a Lyrics line and the staff
+to which it does not belong.
+@end itemize
+
+@lilypond[verbatim]
+#(set-global-staff-size 16)
+\layout {
+ \context {
+ \Lyrics
+ % By default, Lyrics are placed close together. Here, we allow them to
+ % be stretched more widely.
+ \override VerticalAxisGroup
+ #'inter-loose-line-spacing #'stretchability = #1000
+ }
+}
+
+\new StaffGroup
+<<
+ \new Staff \with {
+ \override VerticalAxisGroup #'next-staff-spacing = #'((space . 30)) }
+ { c'1 }
+ \new Lyrics \with {
+ \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #UP }
+ \lyricmode { up }
+ \new Lyrics \with {
+ \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #CENTER }
+ \lyricmode { center }
+ \new Lyrics \with {
+ \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #DOWN }
+ \lyricmode { down }
+ \new Staff
+ { c'1 }
+>>
+@end lilypond