In the Add mode of Anki, there is an inconsistent and counterproductive behavior regarding the text alignment chosen by the user. By default, the editor keeps text left-aligned. However, when the user manually changes this setting to centered or justified alignment, the preference is not preserved. After creating a card, Anki automatically resets the alignment to left in the next card, completely disregarding the previously selected option.
This behavior directly affects the card creation workflow, since text alignment is typically a recurring preference rather than a one-time adjustment. As a result, the user is forced to reapply the alignment for every new card, making the process repetitive, tiring, and unnecessarily manual. Moreover, there is no visual or logical indication that this setting will be discarded, which reinforces the feeling of poor usability and unmet expectations.
The inconsistency becomes even more apparent when considering that Anki already preserves other formatting settings persistently. A clear example is font color: once a specific color is selected, it remains active until the user explicitly chooses another. This shows that the system is already capable of maintaining formatting states across card creation, yet, for some reason, does not apply the same logic to text alignment.
This limitation stands in sharp contrast to the behavior of well-established word processors such as Microsoft Word. In Word, text alignment is treated as a persistent state: once an alignment—whether left, centered, right, or justified—is selected, it remains in effect for subsequent paragraphs until the user intentionally changes it. This native and intuitive behavior aligns with user expectations and serves as a clear example of good usability and interface consistency.
In practice, the approach adopted by Anki results in an incoherent experience, where some visual preferences are remembered by the editor while others are arbitrarily reset. Text alignment should behave in the same way as font color, remaining active until the user decides to change it. The lack of persistent alignment reduces editing efficiency and runs counter to basic usability principles, especially for users who create large numbers of cards following a well-defined visual standard.