diff --git a/src/eval/raw.rs b/src/eval/raw.rs
index b0f46fc94..a83c363f7 100644
--- a/src/eval/raw.rs
+++ b/src/eval/raw.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use super::{Fold, Resolve, Smart, StyleChain, Value};
 use crate::geom::{
     Align, Em, Get, Length, Numeric, Paint, Relative, Spec, SpecAxis, Stroke,
 };
-use crate::library::text::{ParNode, TextNode};
+use crate::library::text::TextNode;
 
 /// The unresolved alignment representation.
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Hash)]
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ impl Resolve for RawAlign {
     type Output = Align;
 
     fn resolve(self, styles: StyleChain) -> Self::Output {
-        let dir = styles.get(ParNode::DIR);
+        let dir = styles.get(TextNode::DIR);
         match self {
             Self::Start => dir.start().into(),
             Self::End => dir.end().into(),
diff --git a/src/eval/styles.rs b/src/eval/styles.rs
index 71293f40d..f147d8cf6 100644
--- a/src/eval/styles.rs
+++ b/src/eval/styles.rs
@@ -66,6 +66,14 @@ impl StyleMap {
         self.0.push(Entry::Recipe(Recipe::new::<T>(func, span)));
     }
 
+    /// Whether the map contains a style property for the given key.
+    pub fn contains<'a, K: Key<'a>>(&self, _: K) -> bool {
+        self.0
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|entry| entry.property())
+            .any(|property| property.key == TypeId::of::<K>())
+    }
+
     /// Make `self` the first link of the `tail` chain.
     ///
     /// The resulting style chain contains styles from `self` as well as
@@ -261,7 +269,7 @@ where
 ///
 /// This trait is not intended to be implemented manually, but rather through
 /// the `#[node]` proc-macro.
-pub trait Key<'a>: 'static {
+pub trait Key<'a>: Copy + 'static {
     /// The unfolded type which this property is stored as in a style map. For
     /// example, this is [`Toggle`](crate::geom::Length) for the
     /// [`STRONG`](TextNode::STRONG) property.
@@ -680,6 +688,15 @@ impl<T> StyleVec<T> {
         self.items.len()
     }
 
+    /// Iterate over the contained maps. Note that zipping this with `items()`
+    /// does not yield the same result as calling `iter()` because this method
+    /// only returns maps once that are shared by consecutive items. This method
+    /// is designed for use cases where you want to check, for example, whether
+    /// any of the maps fulfills a specific property.
+    pub fn maps(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &StyleMap> {
+        self.maps.iter().map(|(map, _)| map)
+    }
+
     /// Iterate over the contained items.
     pub fn items(&self) -> std::slice::Iter<'_, T> {
         self.items.iter()
diff --git a/src/library/graphics/shape.rs b/src/library/graphics/shape.rs
index a159a3af3..236406c0a 100644
--- a/src/library/graphics/shape.rs
+++ b/src/library/graphics/shape.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ impl<const S: ShapeKind> ShapeNode<S> {
     /// How to stroke the shape.
     #[property(resolve, fold)]
     pub const STROKE: Smart<Option<RawStroke>> = Smart::Auto;
+
     /// How much to pad the shape's content.
     pub const PADDING: Relative<RawLength> = Relative::zero();
 
diff --git a/src/library/layout/align.rs b/src/library/layout/align.rs
index 699a908c4..2a4d039ea 100644
--- a/src/library/layout/align.rs
+++ b/src/library/layout/align.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::library::prelude::*;
-use crate::library::text::ParNode;
+use crate::library::text::{HorizontalAlign, ParNode};
 
 /// Align a node along the layouting axes.
 #[derive(Debug, Hash)]
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ impl Layout for AlignNode {
         // Align paragraphs inside the child.
         let mut passed = StyleMap::new();
         if let Some(align) = self.aligns.x {
-            passed.set(ParNode::ALIGN, align);
+            passed.set(ParNode::ALIGN, HorizontalAlign(align));
         }
 
         // Layout the child.
diff --git a/src/library/layout/columns.rs b/src/library/layout/columns.rs
index 3ef66b406..4963043ef 100644
--- a/src/library/layout/columns.rs
+++ b/src/library/layout/columns.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use crate::library::prelude::*;
-use crate::library::text::ParNode;
+use crate::library::text::TextNode;
 
 /// Separate a region into multiple equally sized columns.
 #[derive(Debug, Hash)]
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl Layout for ColumnsNode {
         // Layout the children.
         let mut frames = self.child.layout(ctx, &pod, styles)?.into_iter();
 
-        let dir = styles.get(ParNode::DIR);
+        let dir = styles.get(TextNode::DIR);
         let total_regions = (frames.len() as f32 / columns as f32).ceil() as usize;
         let mut finished = vec![];
 
diff --git a/src/library/layout/page.rs b/src/library/layout/page.rs
index 7aa53b237..13583f098 100644
--- a/src/library/layout/page.rs
+++ b/src/library/layout/page.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ impl PageNode {
     pub const HEIGHT: Smart<RawLength> = Smart::Custom(Paper::A4.height().into());
     /// Whether the page is flipped into landscape orientation.
     pub const FLIPPED: bool = false;
+
     /// The left margin.
     pub const LEFT: Smart<Relative<RawLength>> = Smart::Auto;
     /// The right margin.
@@ -25,10 +26,12 @@ impl PageNode {
     pub const TOP: Smart<Relative<RawLength>> = Smart::Auto;
     /// The bottom margin.
     pub const BOTTOM: Smart<Relative<RawLength>> = Smart::Auto;
-    /// The page's background color.
-    pub const FILL: Option<Paint> = None;
+
     /// How many columns the page has.
     pub const COLUMNS: NonZeroUsize = NonZeroUsize::new(1).unwrap();
+    /// The page's background color.
+    pub const FILL: Option<Paint> = None;
+
     /// The page's header.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const HEADER: Marginal = Marginal::None;
diff --git a/src/library/structure/heading.rs b/src/library/structure/heading.rs
index dcf87f908..07e5e6628 100644
--- a/src/library/structure/heading.rs
+++ b/src/library/structure/heading.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ impl HeadingNode {
         let upscale = (1.6 - 0.1 * level as f64).max(0.75);
         TextSize(Em::new(upscale).into())
     });
+
     /// Whether text in the heading is strengthend.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const STRONG: Leveled<bool> = Leveled::Value(true);
@@ -34,12 +35,14 @@ impl HeadingNode {
     /// Whether the heading is underlined.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const UNDERLINE: Leveled<bool> = Leveled::Value(false);
+
     /// The extra padding above the heading.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const ABOVE: Leveled<RawLength> = Leveled::Value(Length::zero().into());
     /// The extra padding below the heading.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const BELOW: Leveled<RawLength> = Leveled::Value(Length::zero().into());
+
     /// Whether the heading is block-level.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const BLOCK: Leveled<bool> = Leveled::Value(true);
diff --git a/src/library/structure/list.rs b/src/library/structure/list.rs
index c3eae1af0..02a7cd383 100644
--- a/src/library/structure/list.rs
+++ b/src/library/structure/list.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ impl<const L: ListKind> ListNode<L> {
     /// How the list is labelled.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const LABEL: Label = Label::Default;
+
     /// The spacing between the list items of a non-wide list.
     #[property(resolve)]
     pub const SPACING: RawLength = RawLength::zero();
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ impl<const L: ListKind> ListNode<L> {
     /// The space between the label and the body of each item.
     #[property(resolve)]
     pub const BODY_INDENT: RawLength = Em::new(0.5).into();
+
     /// The extra padding above the list.
     #[property(resolve)]
     pub const ABOVE: RawLength = RawLength::zero();
@@ -137,7 +139,7 @@ pub const UNORDERED: ListKind = 0;
 /// Ordered list labelling style.
 pub const ORDERED: ListKind = 1;
 
-/// Either content or a closure mapping to content.
+/// How to label a list or enumeration.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Hash)]
 pub enum Label {
     /// The default labelling.
diff --git a/src/library/structure/table.rs b/src/library/structure/table.rs
index 40f25749b..96d3bd5b5 100644
--- a/src/library/structure/table.rs
+++ b/src/library/structure/table.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ impl TableNode {
     /// How to stroke the cells.
     #[property(resolve, fold)]
     pub const STROKE: Option<RawStroke> = Some(RawStroke::default());
+
     /// How much to pad the cells's content.
     pub const PADDING: Relative<RawLength> = Length::pt(5.0).into();
 
diff --git a/src/library/text/deco.rs b/src/library/text/deco.rs
index b8a0b3cbf..7481b836e 100644
--- a/src/library/text/deco.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/deco.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ impl<const L: DecoLine> DecoNode<L> {
     /// tables if `auto`.
     #[property(shorthand, resolve, fold)]
     pub const STROKE: Smart<RawStroke> = Smart::Auto;
+
     /// Position of the line relative to the baseline, read from the font tables
     /// if `auto`.
     #[property(resolve)]
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ impl<const L: DecoLine> DecoNode<L> {
     /// Amount that the line will be longer or shorter than its associated text.
     #[property(resolve)]
     pub const EXTENT: RawLength = RawLength::zero();
+
     /// Whether the line skips sections in which it would collide
     /// with the glyphs. Does not apply to strikethrough.
     pub const EVADE: bool = true;
diff --git a/src/library/text/mod.rs b/src/library/text/mod.rs
index b5ccc6366..1d7506890 100644
--- a/src/library/text/mod.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/mod.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,18 @@ impl TextNode {
     /// The bottom end of the text bounding box.
     pub const BOTTOM_EDGE: TextEdge = TextEdge::Metric(VerticalFontMetric::Baseline);
 
+    /// An ISO 639-1 language code.
+    #[property(referenced)]
+    pub const LANG: Option<Lang> = None;
+    /// The direction for text and inline objects. When `auto`, the direction is
+    /// automatically inferred from the language.
+    #[property(resolve)]
+    pub const DIR: Smart<HorizontalDir> = Smart::Auto;
+    /// Whether to hyphenate text to improve line breaking. When `auto`, words
+    /// will will be hyphenated if and only if justification is enabled.
+    #[property(resolve)]
+    pub const HYPHENATE: Smart<Hyphenate> = Smart::Auto;
+
     /// Whether to apply kerning ("kern").
     pub const KERNING: bool = true;
     /// Whether small capital glyphs should be used. ("smcp")
@@ -241,6 +253,80 @@ castable! {
     }),
 }
 
+/// A natural language.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub struct Lang(EcoString);
+
+impl Lang {
+    /// The default direction for the language.
+    pub fn dir(&self) -> Dir {
+        match self.0.as_str() {
+            "ar" | "dv" | "fa" | "he" | "ks" | "pa" | "ps" | "sd" | "ug" | "ur"
+            | "yi" => Dir::RTL,
+            _ => Dir::LTR,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Return the language code as a string slice.
+    pub fn as_str(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+castable! {
+    Lang,
+    Expected: "string",
+    Value::Str(string) => Self(string.to_lowercase()),
+}
+
+/// The direction of text and inline objects in their line.
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub struct HorizontalDir(pub Dir);
+
+castable! {
+    HorizontalDir,
+    Expected: "direction",
+    @dir: Dir => match dir.axis() {
+        SpecAxis::Horizontal => Self(*dir),
+        SpecAxis::Vertical => Err("must be horizontal")?,
+    },
+}
+
+impl Resolve for Smart<HorizontalDir> {
+    type Output = Dir;
+
+    fn resolve(self, styles: StyleChain) -> Self::Output {
+        match self {
+            Smart::Auto => match styles.get(TextNode::LANG) {
+                Some(lang) => lang.dir(),
+                None => Dir::LTR,
+            },
+            Smart::Custom(dir) => dir.0,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Whether to hyphenate text.
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub struct Hyphenate(pub bool);
+
+castable! {
+    Hyphenate,
+    Expected: "boolean",
+    Value::Bool(v) => Self(v),
+}
+
+impl Resolve for Smart<Hyphenate> {
+    type Output = bool;
+
+    fn resolve(self, styles: StyleChain) -> Self::Output {
+        match self {
+            Smart::Auto => styles.get(ParNode::JUSTIFY),
+            Smart::Custom(v) => v.0,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// A stylistic set in a font face.
 #[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
 pub struct StylisticSet(u8);
diff --git a/src/library/text/par.rs b/src/library/text/par.rs
index 57e2b45d8..765c3bf54 100644
--- a/src/library/text/par.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/par.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
-use either::Either;
 use unicode_bidi::{BidiInfo, Level};
 use xi_unicode::LineBreakIterator;
 
-use super::{shape, ShapedText, TextNode};
+use super::{shape, Lang, ShapedText, TextNode};
 use crate::font::FontStore;
 use crate::library::layout::Spacing;
 use crate::library::prelude::*;
@@ -27,21 +26,6 @@ pub enum ParChild {
 
 #[node]
 impl ParNode {
-    /// An ISO 639-1 language code.
-    #[property(referenced)]
-    pub const LANG: Option<EcoString> = None;
-    /// The direction for text and inline objects.
-    pub const DIR: Dir = Dir::LTR;
-    /// How to align text and inline objects in their line.
-    #[property(resolve)]
-    pub const ALIGN: RawAlign = RawAlign::Start;
-    /// Whether to justify text in its line.
-    pub const JUSTIFY: bool = false;
-    /// How to determine line breaks.
-    pub const LINEBREAKS: Smart<Linebreaks> = Smart::Auto;
-    /// Whether to hyphenate text to improve line breaking. When `auto`, words
-    /// will will be hyphenated if and only if justification is enabled.
-    pub const HYPHENATE: Smart<bool> = Smart::Auto;
     /// The spacing between lines.
     #[property(resolve)]
     pub const LEADING: RawLength = Em::new(0.65).into();
@@ -52,6 +36,15 @@ impl ParNode {
     #[property(resolve)]
     pub const INDENT: RawLength = RawLength::zero();
 
+    /// How to align text and inline objects in their line.
+    #[property(resolve)]
+    pub const ALIGN: HorizontalAlign = HorizontalAlign(RawAlign::Start);
+    /// Whether to justify text in its line.
+    pub const JUSTIFY: bool = false;
+    /// How to determine line breaks.
+    #[property(resolve)]
+    pub const LINEBREAKS: Smart<Linebreaks> = Smart::Auto;
+
     fn construct(_: &mut Context, args: &mut Args) -> TypResult<Content> {
         // The paragraph constructor is special: It doesn't create a paragraph
         // since that happens automatically through markup. Instead, it just
@@ -59,45 +52,6 @@ impl ParNode {
         // adjacent stuff and it styles the contained paragraphs.
         Ok(Content::Block(args.expect("body")?))
     }
-
-    fn set(args: &mut Args) -> TypResult<StyleMap> {
-        let mut styles = StyleMap::new();
-
-        let lang = args.named::<Option<EcoString>>("lang")?;
-        let mut dir =
-            lang.clone().flatten().map(|iso| match iso.to_lowercase().as_str() {
-                "ar" | "dv" | "fa" | "he" | "ks" | "pa" | "ps" | "sd" | "ug" | "ur"
-                | "yi" => Dir::RTL,
-                _ => Dir::LTR,
-            });
-
-        if let Some(Spanned { v, span }) = args.named::<Spanned<Dir>>("dir")? {
-            if v.axis() != SpecAxis::Horizontal {
-                bail!(span, "must be horizontal");
-            }
-            dir = Some(v);
-        }
-
-        let mut align = None;
-        if let Some(Spanned { v, span }) = args.named::<Spanned<RawAlign>>("align")? {
-            if v.axis() != SpecAxis::Horizontal {
-                bail!(span, "must be horizontal");
-            }
-            align = Some(v);
-        };
-
-        styles.set_opt(Self::LANG, lang);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::DIR, dir);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::ALIGN, align);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::JUSTIFY, args.named("justify")?);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::LINEBREAKS, args.named("linebreaks")?);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::HYPHENATE, args.named("hyphenate")?);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::LEADING, args.named("leading")?);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::SPACING, args.named("spacing")?);
-        styles.set_opt(Self::INDENT, args.named("indent")?);
-
-        Ok(styles)
-    }
 }
 
 impl ParNode {
@@ -147,7 +101,7 @@ impl Layout for ParNode {
         let p = prepare(ctx, self, &text, regions, &styles)?;
 
         // Break the paragraph into lines.
-        let lines = linebreak(&p, &mut ctx.fonts, regions.first.x, styles);
+        let lines = linebreak(&p, &mut ctx.fonts, regions.first.x);
 
         // Stack the lines into one frame per region.
         Ok(stack(&lines, &ctx.fonts, regions, styles))
@@ -182,6 +136,27 @@ impl Merge for ParChild {
     }
 }
 
+/// A horizontal alignment.
+#[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
+pub struct HorizontalAlign(pub RawAlign);
+
+castable! {
+    HorizontalAlign,
+    Expected: "alignment",
+    @align: RawAlign => match align.axis() {
+        SpecAxis::Horizontal => Self(*align),
+        SpecAxis::Vertical => Err("must be horizontal")?,
+    },
+}
+
+impl Resolve for HorizontalAlign {
+    type Output = Align;
+
+    fn resolve(self, styles: StyleChain) -> Self::Output {
+        self.0.resolve(styles)
+    }
+}
+
 /// How to determine line breaks in a paragraph.
 #[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
 pub enum Linebreaks {
@@ -201,6 +176,20 @@ castable! {
     },
 }
 
+impl Resolve for Smart<Linebreaks> {
+    type Output = Linebreaks;
+
+    fn resolve(self, styles: StyleChain) -> Self::Output {
+        self.unwrap_or_else(|| {
+            if styles.get(ParNode::JUSTIFY) {
+                Linebreaks::Optimized
+            } else {
+                Linebreaks::Simple
+            }
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 /// A paragraph break.
 pub struct ParbreakNode;
 
@@ -233,17 +222,35 @@ type Range = std::ops::Range<usize>;
 struct Preparation<'a> {
     /// Bidirectional text embedding levels for the paragraph.
     bidi: BidiInfo<'a>,
+    /// The paragraph's children.
+    children: &'a StyleVec<ParChild>,
     /// Spacing, separated text runs and layouted nodes.
     items: Vec<ParItem<'a>>,
     /// The ranges of the items in `bidi.text`.
     ranges: Vec<Range>,
+    /// The shared styles.
+    styles: StyleChain<'a>,
 }
 
-impl Preparation<'_> {
+impl<'a> Preparation<'a> {
+    /// Find the item whose range contains the `text_offset`.
+    fn find(&self, text_offset: usize) -> Option<&ParItem<'a>> {
+        self.find_idx(text_offset).map(|idx| &self.items[idx])
+    }
+
     /// Find the index of the item whose range contains the `text_offset`.
-    fn find(&self, text_offset: usize) -> Option<usize> {
+    fn find_idx(&self, text_offset: usize) -> Option<usize> {
         self.ranges.binary_search_by(|r| r.locate(text_offset)).ok()
     }
+
+    /// Get a style property, but only if it is the same for all children of the
+    /// paragraph.
+    fn get_shared<K: Key<'a>>(&self, key: K) -> Option<K::Output> {
+        self.children
+            .maps()
+            .all(|map| !map.contains(key))
+            .then(|| self.styles.get(key))
+    }
 }
 
 /// A prepared item in a paragraph layout.
@@ -258,6 +265,16 @@ enum ParItem<'a> {
     Frame(Frame),
 }
 
+impl<'a> ParItem<'a> {
+    /// If this a text item, return it.
+    fn text(&self) -> Option<&ShapedText<'a>> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Text(shaped) => Some(shaped),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// A layouted line, consisting of a sequence of layouted paragraph items that
 /// are mostly borrowed from the preparation phase. This type enables you to
 /// measure the size of a line in a range before comitting to building the
@@ -315,10 +332,8 @@ impl<'a> Line<'a> {
     // How many justifiable glyphs the line contains.
     fn justifiables(&self) -> usize {
         let mut count = 0;
-        for item in self.items() {
-            if let ParItem::Text(shaped) = item {
-                count += shaped.justifiables();
-            }
+        for shaped in self.items().filter_map(ParItem::text) {
+            count += shaped.justifiables();
         }
         count
     }
@@ -326,10 +341,8 @@ impl<'a> Line<'a> {
     /// How much of the line is stretchable spaces.
     fn stretch(&self) -> Length {
         let mut stretch = Length::zero();
-        for item in self.items() {
-            if let ParItem::Text(shaped) = item {
-                stretch += shaped.stretch();
-            }
+        for shaped in self.items().filter_map(ParItem::text) {
+            stretch += shaped.stretch();
         }
         stretch
     }
@@ -344,7 +357,7 @@ fn prepare<'a>(
     regions: &Regions,
     styles: &'a StyleChain,
 ) -> TypResult<Preparation<'a>> {
-    let bidi = BidiInfo::new(&text, match styles.get(ParNode::DIR) {
+    let bidi = BidiInfo::new(&text, match styles.get(TextNode::DIR) {
         Dir::LTR => Some(Level::ltr()),
         Dir::RTL => Some(Level::rtl()),
         _ => None,
@@ -358,7 +371,7 @@ fn prepare<'a>(
         let styles = map.chain(styles);
         match child {
             ParChild::Text(_) => {
-                // TODO: Also split by language and script.
+                // TODO: Also split by language.
                 let mut cursor = range.start;
                 for (level, count) in bidi.levels[range].group() {
                     let start = cursor;
@@ -402,7 +415,13 @@ fn prepare<'a>(
         }
     }
 
-    Ok(Preparation { bidi, items, ranges })
+    Ok(Preparation {
+        bidi,
+        children: &par.0,
+        items,
+        ranges,
+        styles: *styles,
+    })
 }
 
 /// Find suitable linebreaks.
@@ -410,22 +429,13 @@ fn linebreak<'a>(
     p: &'a Preparation<'a>,
     fonts: &mut FontStore,
     width: Length,
-    styles: StyleChain,
 ) -> Vec<Line<'a>> {
-    let breaks = styles.get(ParNode::LINEBREAKS).unwrap_or_else(|| {
-        if styles.get(ParNode::JUSTIFY) {
-            Linebreaks::Optimized
-        } else {
-            Linebreaks::Simple
-        }
-    });
-
-    let breaker = match breaks {
+    let breaker = match p.styles.get(ParNode::LINEBREAKS) {
         Linebreaks::Simple => linebreak_simple,
         Linebreaks::Optimized => linebreak_optimized,
     };
 
-    breaker(p, fonts, width, styles)
+    breaker(p, fonts, width)
 }
 
 /// Perform line breaking in simple first-fit style. This means that we build
@@ -435,13 +445,12 @@ fn linebreak_simple<'a>(
     p: &'a Preparation<'a>,
     fonts: &mut FontStore,
     width: Length,
-    styles: StyleChain,
 ) -> Vec<Line<'a>> {
     let mut lines = vec![];
     let mut start = 0;
     let mut last = None;
 
-    for (end, mandatory, hyphen) in breakpoints(&p.bidi.text, styles) {
+    for (end, mandatory, hyphen) in breakpoints(p) {
         // Compute the line and its size.
         let mut attempt = line(p, fonts, start .. end, mandatory, hyphen);
 
@@ -496,7 +505,6 @@ fn linebreak_optimized<'a>(
     p: &'a Preparation<'a>,
     fonts: &mut FontStore,
     width: Length,
-    styles: StyleChain,
 ) -> Vec<Line<'a>> {
     /// The cost of a line or paragraph layout.
     type Cost = f64;
@@ -515,8 +523,8 @@ fn linebreak_optimized<'a>(
     const MIN_COST: Cost = -MAX_COST;
     const MIN_RATIO: f64 = -0.15;
 
-    let em = styles.get(TextNode::SIZE);
-    let justify = styles.get(ParNode::JUSTIFY);
+    let em = p.styles.get(TextNode::SIZE);
+    let justify = p.styles.get(ParNode::JUSTIFY);
 
     // Dynamic programming table.
     let mut active = 0;
@@ -526,7 +534,7 @@ fn linebreak_optimized<'a>(
         line: line(p, fonts, 0 .. 0, false, false),
     }];
 
-    for (end, mandatory, hyphen) in breakpoints(&p.bidi.text, styles) {
+    for (end, mandatory, hyphen) in breakpoints(p) {
         let k = table.len();
         let eof = end == p.bidi.text.len();
         let mut best: Option<Entry> = None;
@@ -611,47 +619,104 @@ fn linebreak_optimized<'a>(
 /// Returns for each breakpoint the text index, whether the break is mandatory
 /// (after `\n`) and whether a hyphen is required (when breaking inside of a
 /// word).
-fn breakpoints<'a>(
-    text: &'a str,
-    styles: StyleChain,
-) -> impl Iterator<Item = (usize, bool, bool)> + 'a {
-    let mut lang = None;
-    if styles.get(ParNode::HYPHENATE).unwrap_or(styles.get(ParNode::JUSTIFY)) {
-        lang = styles
-            .get(ParNode::LANG)
-            .as_ref()
-            .and_then(|iso| iso.as_bytes().try_into().ok())
-            .and_then(hypher::Lang::from_iso);
+fn breakpoints<'a>(p: &'a Preparation) -> impl Iterator<Item = (usize, bool, bool)> + 'a {
+    Breakpoints {
+        p,
+        linebreaks: LineBreakIterator::new(p.bidi.text),
+        syllables: None,
+        offset: 0,
+        suffix: 0,
+        end: 0,
+        mandatory: false,
+        hyphenate: p.get_shared(TextNode::HYPHENATE),
+        lang: p.get_shared(TextNode::LANG).map(Option::as_ref),
+    }
+}
+
+/// An iterator over the line break opportunities in a text.
+struct Breakpoints<'a> {
+    /// The paragraph's items.
+    p: &'a Preparation<'a>,
+    /// The inner iterator over the unicode line break opportunities.
+    linebreaks: LineBreakIterator<'a>,
+    /// Iterator over syllables of the current word.
+    syllables: Option<hypher::Syllables<'a>>,
+    /// The current text offset.
+    offset: usize,
+    /// The trimmed end of the current word.
+    suffix: usize,
+    /// The untrimmed end of the current word.
+    end: usize,
+    /// Whether the break after the current word is mandatory.
+    mandatory: bool,
+    /// Whether to hyphenate if it's the same for all children.
+    hyphenate: Option<bool>,
+    /// The text language if it's the same for all children.
+    lang: Option<Option<&'a Lang>>,
+}
+
+impl Iterator for Breakpoints<'_> {
+    type Item = (usize, bool, bool);
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        // If we're currently in a hyphenated "word", process the next syllable.
+        if let Some(syllable) = self.syllables.as_mut().and_then(Iterator::next) {
+            self.offset += syllable.len();
+            if self.offset == self.suffix {
+                self.offset = self.end;
+            }
+
+            // Filter out hyphenation opportunities where hyphenation was
+            // actually disabled.
+            let hyphen = self.offset < self.end;
+            if hyphen && !self.hyphenate_at(self.offset) {
+                return self.next();
+            }
+
+            return Some((self.offset, self.mandatory && !hyphen, hyphen));
+        }
+
+        // Get the next "word".
+        (self.end, self.mandatory) = self.linebreaks.next()?;
+
+        // Hyphenate the next word.
+        if self.hyphenate != Some(false) {
+            if let Some(lang) = self.lang_at(self.offset) {
+                let word = &self.p.bidi.text[self.offset .. self.end];
+                let trimmed = word.trim_end_matches(|c: char| !c.is_alphabetic());
+                if !trimmed.is_empty() {
+                    self.suffix = self.offset + trimmed.len();
+                    self.syllables = Some(hypher::hyphenate(trimmed, lang));
+                    return self.next();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        self.offset = self.end;
+        Some((self.end, self.mandatory, false))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Breakpoints<'_> {
+    /// Whether hyphenation is enabled at the given offset.
+    fn hyphenate_at(&self, offset: usize) -> bool {
+        self.hyphenate
+            .or_else(|| {
+                let shaped = self.p.find(offset)?.text()?;
+                Some(shaped.styles.get(TextNode::HYPHENATE))
+            })
+            .unwrap_or(false)
     }
 
-    let breaks = LineBreakIterator::new(text);
-    let mut last = 0;
+    /// The text language at the given offset.
+    fn lang_at(&self, offset: usize) -> Option<hypher::Lang> {
+        let lang = self.lang.unwrap_or_else(|| {
+            let shaped = self.p.find(offset)?.text()?;
+            shaped.styles.get(TextNode::LANG).as_ref()
+        })?;
 
-    if let Some(lang) = lang {
-        Either::Left(breaks.flat_map(move |(end, mandatory)| {
-            // We don't want to confuse the hyphenator with trailing
-            // punctuation, so we trim it. And if that makes the word empty, we
-            // need to return the single breakpoint manually because hypher
-            // would eat it.
-            let word = &text[last .. end];
-            let trimmed = word.trim_end_matches(|c: char| !c.is_alphabetic());
-            let suffix = last + trimmed.len();
-            let mut start = std::mem::replace(&mut last, end);
-            if trimmed.is_empty() {
-                Either::Left([(end, mandatory, false)].into_iter())
-            } else {
-                Either::Right(hypher::hyphenate(trimmed, lang).map(move |syllable| {
-                    start += syllable.len();
-                    if start == suffix {
-                        start = end;
-                    }
-                    let hyphen = start < end;
-                    (start, mandatory && !hyphen, hyphen)
-                }))
-            }
-        }))
-    } else {
-        Either::Right(breaks.map(|(e, m)| (e, m, false)))
+        let bytes = lang.as_str().as_bytes().try_into().ok()?;
+        hypher::Lang::from_iso(bytes)
     }
 }
 
@@ -664,11 +729,11 @@ fn line<'a>(
     hyphen: bool,
 ) -> Line<'a> {
     // Find the items which bound the text range.
-    let last_idx = p.find(range.end.saturating_sub(1)).unwrap();
+    let last_idx = p.find_idx(range.end.saturating_sub(1)).unwrap();
     let first_idx = if range.is_empty() {
         last_idx
     } else {
-        p.find(range.start).unwrap()
+        p.find_idx(range.start).unwrap()
     };
 
     // Slice out the relevant items.
diff --git a/src/library/text/raw.rs b/src/library/text/raw.rs
index f09bc1d07..d96100af3 100644
--- a/src/library/text/raw.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/raw.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use syntect::easy::HighlightLines;
 use syntect::highlighting::{FontStyle, Highlighter, Style, Theme, ThemeSet};
 use syntect::parsing::SyntaxSet;
 
-use super::{FontFamily, TextNode, Toggle};
+use super::{FontFamily, Hyphenate, TextNode, Toggle};
 use crate::library::prelude::*;
 use crate::source::SourceId;
 use crate::syntax::{self, RedNode};
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ impl RawNode {
     /// The raw text's font family. Just the normal text family if `none`.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const FAMILY: Smart<FontFamily> = Smart::Custom(FontFamily::new("IBM Plex Mono"));
+
     /// The language to syntax-highlight in.
     #[property(referenced)]
     pub const LANG: Option<EcoString> = None;
@@ -97,6 +98,9 @@ impl Show for RawNode {
         };
 
         let mut map = StyleMap::new();
+        map.set(TextNode::OVERHANG, false);
+        map.set(TextNode::HYPHENATE, Smart::Custom(Hyphenate(false)));
+
         if let Smart::Custom(family) = styles.get(Self::FAMILY) {
             map.set_family(family.clone(), styles);
         }
diff --git a/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png b/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png
index 24c52de5c..0560d5b70 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png and b/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png differ
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/align.typ b/tests/typ/layout/align.typ
index f0603b46c..753683de2 100644
--- a/tests/typ/layout/align.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/align.typ
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@
 // Test start and end alignment.
 #rotate(-30deg, origin: end + horizon)[Hello]
 
-#set par(lang: "de")
+#set text(lang: "de")
 #align(start)[Start]
 #align(end)[Ende]
 
-#set par(lang: "ar")
+#set text(lang: "ar")
 #align(start)[يبدأ]
 #align(end)[نهاية]
 
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/columns.typ b/tests/typ/layout/columns.typ
index 0a5858683..ce291fb2f 100644
--- a/tests/typ/layout/columns.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/columns.typ
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 ---
 // Test normal operation and RTL directions.
 #set page(height: 3.25cm, width: 7.05cm, columns: 2)
+#set text(lang: "ar", "Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Serif")
 #set columns(gutter: 30pt)
-#set text("Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Serif")
-#set par(lang: "ar")
 
 #rect(fill: conifer, height: 8pt, width: 6pt) وتحفيز
 العديد من التفاعلات الكيميائية. (DNA) من أهم الأحماض النووية التي تُشكِّل
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ b/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ
index 5c6663814..a180ad553 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/bidi.typ
@@ -2,37 +2,35 @@
 
 ---
 // Test reordering with different top-level paragraph directions.
-#let content = [Text טֶקסט]
+#let content = par[Text טֶקסט]
 #set text("IBM Plex Serif")
-#par(lang: "he", content)
-#par(lang: "de", content)
+#text(lang: "he", content)
+#text(lang: "de", content)
 
 ---
 // Test that consecutive, embedded  LTR runs stay LTR.
 // Here, we have two runs: "A" and italic "B".
-#let content = [أنت A#emph[B]مطرC]
+#let content = par[أنت A#emph[B]مطرC]
 #set text("IBM Plex Serif", "Noto Sans Arabic")
-#par(lang: "ar", content)
-#par(lang: "de", content)
+#text(lang: "ar", content)
+#text(lang: "de", content)
 
 ---
 // Test that consecutive, embedded RTL runs stay RTL.
 // Here, we have three runs: "גֶ", bold "שֶׁ", and "ם".
-#let content = [Aגֶ#strong[שֶׁ]םB]
+#let content = par[Aגֶ#strong[שֶׁ]םB]
 #set text("IBM Plex Serif", "Noto Serif Hebrew")
-#par(lang: "he", content)
-#par(lang: "de", content)
+#text(lang: "he", content)
+#text(lang: "de", content)
 
 ---
 // Test embedding up to level 4 with isolates.
-#set text("IBM Plex Serif")
-#set par(dir: rtl)
+#set text(dir: rtl, "IBM Plex Serif")
 א\u{2066}A\u{2067}Bב\u{2069}?
 
 ---
 // Test hard line break (leads to two paragraphs in unicode-bidi).
-#set text("Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Serif")
-#set par(lang: "ar")
+#set text(lang: "ar", "Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Serif")
 Life المطر هو الحياة \
 الحياة تمطر is rain.
 
@@ -44,13 +42,12 @@ Lריווח #h(1cm) R
 
 ---
 // Test inline object.
-#set text("IBM Plex Serif")
-#set par(lang: "he")
+#set text(lang: "he", "IBM Plex Serif")
 קרנפיםRh#image("../../res/rhino.png", height: 11pt)inoחיים
 
 ---
 // Test setting a vertical direction.
 // Ref: false
 
-// Error: 15-18 must be horizontal
-#set par(dir: ttb)
+// Error: 16-19 must be horizontal
+#set text(dir: ttb)
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ b/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ
index 67711ac33..02a332770 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ
@@ -1,23 +1,33 @@
 // Test hyphenation.
 
 ---
-// Hyphenate english.
-#set page(width: 70pt)
-#set par(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
-Warm welcomes to Typst.
+// Test hyphenating english and greek.
+#set text(hyphenate: true)
+#set page(width: auto)
+#grid(
+  columns: (70pt, 60pt),
+  text(lang: "en")[Warm welcomes to Typst.],
+  text(lang: "el")[διαμερίσματα. \ λατρευτός],
+)
 
 ---
-// Hyphenate greek.
-#set page(width: 60pt)
-#set par(lang: "el", hyphenate: true)
-διαμερίσματα. \
-λατρευτός
+// Test disabling hyphenation for short passages.
+#set text(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
+
+Welcome to wonderful experiences. \
+Welcome to `wonderful` experiences. \
+Welcome to #text(hyphenate: false)[wonderful] experiences. \
+Welcome to wonde#text(hyphenate: false)[rf]ul experiences. \
+
+// Test enabling hyphenation for short passages.
+#set text(lang: "en", hyphenate: false)
+Welcome to wonderful experiences. \
+Welcome to wo#text(hyphenate: true)[nd]erful experiences. \
 
 ---
 // Hyphenate between shape runs.
-#set par(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
 #set page(width: 80pt)
-
+#set text(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
 It's a #emph[Tree]beard.
 
 ---
@@ -26,5 +36,5 @@ It's a #emph[Tree]beard.
 // do that. The test passes if there's just one hyphenation between
 // "net" and "works".
 #set page(width: 70pt)
-#set par(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
+#set text(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
 #h(6pt) networks, the rest.
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/indent.typ b/tests/typ/text/indent.typ
index 6da562f6e..1b48851bc 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/indent.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/indent.typ
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ starts a paragraph without indent.
 
   Except if you have another paragraph in them.
 
-#set text(8pt, "Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Sans")
-#set par(lang: "ar", leading: 8pt)
+#set text(8pt, lang: "ar", "Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Sans")
+#set par(leading: 8pt)
 
 = Arabic
 دع النص يمطر عليك
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/justify.typ b/tests/typ/text/justify.typ
index d19249ead..24b6b99eb 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/justify.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/justify.typ
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 
 ---
 #set page(width: 180pt)
+#set text(lang: "en")
 #set par(
-  lang: "en",
   justify: true,
   indent: 14pt,
   spacing: 0pt,
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/knuth.typ b/tests/typ/text/knuth.typ
index d5af87f84..33249ef49 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/knuth.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/knuth.typ
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #set page(width: auto, height: auto)
-#set par(lang: "en", leading: 4pt, justify: true)
-#set text(family: "Latin Modern Roman")
+#set par(leading: 4pt, justify: true)
+#set text(lang: "en", family: "Latin Modern Roman")
 
 #let story = [
   In olden times when wishing still helped one, there lived a king whose
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #let column(title, linebreaks, hyphenate) = {
   rect(width: 132pt, fill: rgb("eee"))[
     #strong(title)
-    #par(linebreaks: linebreaks, hyphenate: hyphenate, story)
+    #par(linebreaks: linebreaks, text(hyphenate: hyphenate, story))
   ]
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/microtype.typ b/tests/typ/text/microtype.typ
index dbcb49988..7e85bd3fe 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/microtype.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/microtype.typ
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ A#box["]B
 ‹Book quotes are even smarter.› \
 
 ---
-#set par(lang: "ar")
-#set text("Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Sans")
+#set text(lang: "ar", "Noto Sans Arabic", "IBM Plex Sans")
 "المطر هو الحياة" \
 المطر هو الحياة