diff --git a/scraibe/email_sender.py b/scraibe/email_sender.py
index 9d2112b..d55d789 100644
--- a/scraibe/email_sender.py
+++ b/scraibe/email_sender.py
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ def _create_transcript_section_properties(section):
     """
     Configure the section properties for transcript DOCX:
     - Margins: 1 inch all sides
+    - Single column layout
     - Line numbering: start=1, countBy=1, restart each page
     - Disable document grid to avoid off-by-one line numbering
     """
@@ -334,6 +335,12 @@ def _create_transcript_section_properties(section):
     _set_element_attr(pgMar, "footer", "720")
     _set_element_attr(pgMar, "gutter", "0")
 
+    # Ensure single column (no multi-column layout that can interfere with line numbering)
+    cols = sectPr.find(f"{{{W_NS}}}cols")
+    if cols is not None:
+        _set_element_attr(cols, "num", "1")
+        _set_element_attr(cols, "space", "720")
+
     # Disable document grid to avoid Word counting phantom grid lines
     docGrid = sectPr.find(f"{{{W_NS}}}docGrid")
     if docGrid is not None:
@@ -351,6 +358,7 @@ def _add_transcript_paragraph(doc, line_text):
     """
     Add a single transcript line as a paragraph.
     If it matches timestamp + speaker format, format the label differently.
+    Uses single line spacing and zero before/after spacing so each paragraph = 1 line.
     """
     line_text = line_text.strip()
     if not line_text:
@@ -359,6 +367,15 @@ def _add_transcript_paragraph(doc, line_text):
     p = doc.add_paragraph()
     p.paragraph_format.left_indent = Inches(0.25)
 
+    # Enforce single line spacing with no extra before/after
+    pPr = p._p.get_or_add_pPr()
+    spacing = OxmlElement("w:spacing")
+    _set_element_attr(spacing, "before", "0")
+    _set_element_attr(spacing, "after", "0")
+    _set_element_attr(spacing, "line", "240")       # 12pt in twips
+    _set_element_attr(spacing, "lineRule", "auto")
+    pPr.append(spacing)
+
     # Try to match: [00:00] SPEAKER 1: content
     m = re.match(r"\[(\d+:\d+(?::\d+)?)\]\s*(.+?):\s*(.*)", line_text)
     if m: