diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
index f7e97e0e8..60dd82b84 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
@@ -1741,11 +1741,14 @@
 }
 
 [data-words-content] {
-	/* Narrowed left margin band ("estrechar" — was 3.5rem). Painted
-	 * below as a soft silver strip with a 1px, slightly-stronger-silver
-	 * right border (fixed-tone notebook margin). The drag handle lives
-	 * inside this band on hover. */
-	--_words-gutter-size: 2.5rem;
+	/* Left margin: a thin silver band (rail-width) + breathing room
+	 * (rail-gap) before the text, so the edit zone is NOT glued to the
+	 * band. The band is painted below; the gutter-size (band + gap) is
+	 * the text inset. Fixed-tone notebook margin; the drag handle floats
+	 * in this gutter on hover. */
+	--_words-rail-width: 1.25rem;
+	--_words-rail-gap: 1.25rem;
+	--_words-gutter-size: calc(var(--_words-rail-width) + var(--_words-rail-gap));
 	/* Starting baseline keeps the editor at a sensible height when
 	 * empty; max-block-size caps growth so long documents scroll
 	 * INSIDE the content area instead of pushing the page. */
@@ -1762,16 +1765,16 @@
 	padding-inline-start: var(--_words-gutter-size);
 	padding-inline-end: var(--_words-content-px);
 	color: var(--words-content-color);
-	/* Soft silver left margin band + 1px stronger-silver right border,
-	 * painted in the reserved gutter zone. Background only — does not
-	 * disturb the contenteditable text/selection. */
+	/* Thin silver band (rail-width) with a 1px slightly-stronger right
+	 * edge, then transparent through the gap to the text. Background
+	 * only — does not disturb the contenteditable text/selection. */
 	background-image: linear-gradient(
 		to right,
 		var(--words-rail-bg) 0,
-		var(--words-rail-bg) calc(var(--_words-gutter-size) - 1px),
-		var(--words-rail-border) calc(var(--_words-gutter-size) - 1px),
-		var(--words-rail-border) var(--_words-gutter-size),
-		transparent var(--_words-gutter-size)
+		var(--words-rail-bg) calc(var(--_words-rail-width) - 1px),
+		var(--words-rail-border) calc(var(--_words-rail-width) - 1px),
+		var(--words-rail-border) var(--_words-rail-width),
+		transparent var(--_words-rail-width)
 	);
 	background-repeat: no-repeat;
 	outline: none;
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/generated/base.css b/src/uix/eidos/generated/base.css
index b47d5b805..aaf033406 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/generated/base.css
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/generated/base.css
@@ -2282,8 +2282,8 @@
 	--words-content-max-block-size-sm: 50vh;
 	--words-content-max-block-size-md: 60vh;
 	--words-content-max-block-size-lg: 70vh;
-	--words-rail-bg: #ededed;
-	--words-rail-border: #cfcfcf;
+	--words-rail-bg: #f5f5f5;
+	--words-rail-border: #e3e3e3;
 	--words-selection-color: var(--color-content-primary);
 	--words-block-gap: var(--space-2);
 	--words-heading-color: var(--color-content-primary);
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/lib/recipes/base.ts b/src/uix/eidos/lib/recipes/base.ts
index 9b6a4bf80..7dabd85c8 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/lib/recipes/base.ts
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/lib/recipes/base.ts
@@ -2720,10 +2720,11 @@ export const THEME_BASE_RECIPE_TOKENS = {
 		'content-max-block-size-lg': '70vh',
 		// Soft silver gutter band — fixed tone, intentionally NOT
 		// theme-aware. Looks like the physical margin of a notebook
-		// regardless of the editor theme. `rail-bg` is a very soft
-		// silver; `rail-border` is a touch stronger for the 1px edge.
-		'rail-bg': '#ededed',
-		'rail-border': '#cfcfcf',
+		// regardless of the editor theme. Very light: `rail-bg` is a
+		// barely-there silver; `rail-border` is a touch stronger for
+		// the 1px edge.
+		'rail-bg': '#f5f5f5',
+		'rail-border': '#e3e3e3',
 		'selection-color': 'var(--color-content-primary)',
 		'block-gap': 'var(--space-2)',
 		'heading-color': 'var(--color-content-primary)',