diff --git a/src/eval/content.rs b/src/eval/content.rs
index 274b64b0c..605abe516 100644
--- a/src/eval/content.rs
+++ b/src/eval/content.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@ use crate::util::EcoString;
 pub enum Content {
     /// A word space.
     Space,
-    /// A line break.
-    Linebreak,
+    /// A forced line break. If soft (`true`), the preceding line can still be
+    /// justified, if hard (`false`) not.
+    Linebreak(bool),
     /// Horizontal spacing.
     Horizontal(Spacing),
     /// Plain text.
@@ -213,10 +214,10 @@ impl Debug for Content {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
         match self {
             Self::Space => f.pad("Space"),
-            Self::Linebreak => f.pad("Linebreak"),
+            Self::Linebreak(soft) => write!(f, "Linebreak({soft})"),
             Self::Horizontal(kind) => write!(f, "Horizontal({kind:?})"),
             Self::Text(text) => write!(f, "Text({text:?})"),
-            Self::Quote(double) => write!(f, "Quote({double:?})"),
+            Self::Quote(double) => write!(f, "Quote({double})"),
             Self::Inline(node) => {
                 f.write_str("Inline(")?;
                 node.fmt(f)?;
@@ -376,8 +377,9 @@ impl<'a> Builder<'a> {
             Content::Space => {
                 self.par.weak(ParChild::Text(' '.into()), 0, styles);
             }
-            Content::Linebreak => {
-                self.par.destructive(ParChild::Text('\n'.into()), styles);
+            Content::Linebreak(soft) => {
+                let c = if *soft { '\u{2028}' } else { '\n' };
+                self.par.destructive(ParChild::Text(c.into()), styles);
             }
             Content::Horizontal(kind) => {
                 let child = ParChild::Spacing(*kind);
diff --git a/src/eval/mod.rs b/src/eval/mod.rs
index f2c03c0f3..4a616b58b 100644
--- a/src/eval/mod.rs
+++ b/src/eval/mod.rs
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ impl Eval for MarkupNode {
     fn eval(&self, ctx: &mut Context, scp: &mut Scopes) -> EvalResult<Self::Output> {
         Ok(match self {
             Self::Space => Content::Space,
-            Self::Linebreak => Content::Linebreak,
             Self::Parbreak => Content::Parbreak,
+            Self::Linebreak(soft) => Content::Linebreak(*soft),
             Self::Text(text) => Content::Text(text.clone()),
             Self::Quote(double) => Content::Quote(*double),
             Self::Strong(strong) => strong.eval(ctx, scp)?,
diff --git a/src/library/text/par.rs b/src/library/text/par.rs
index 8dcbfeb39..19ab10824 100644
--- a/src/library/text/par.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/par.rs
@@ -167,8 +167,9 @@ pub struct LinebreakNode;
 
 #[node]
 impl LinebreakNode {
-    fn construct(_: &mut Context, _: &mut Args) -> TypResult<Content> {
-        Ok(Content::Linebreak)
+    fn construct(_: &mut Context, args: &mut Args) -> TypResult<Content> {
+        let soft = args.named("soft")?.unwrap_or(false);
+        Ok(Content::Linebreak(soft))
     }
 }
 
@@ -315,8 +316,8 @@ struct Line<'a> {
     last: Option<Item<'a>>,
     /// The width of the line.
     width: Length,
-    /// Whether the line ends at a mandatory break.
-    mandatory: bool,
+    /// Whether the line is allowed to be justified.
+    justify: bool,
     /// Whether the line ends with a hyphen or dash, either naturally or through
     /// hyphenation.
     dash: bool,
@@ -856,7 +857,7 @@ fn line<'a>(
             items: &[],
             last: None,
             width: Length::zero(),
-            mandatory,
+            justify: !mandatory,
             dash: false,
         };
     }
@@ -879,15 +880,18 @@ fn line<'a>(
     // Reshape the last item if it's split in half.
     let mut last = None;
     let mut dash = false;
+    let mut justify = !mandatory;
     if let Some((Item::Text(shaped), before)) = items.split_last() {
         // Compute the range we want to shape, trimming whitespace at the
         // end of the line.
         let base = last_offset;
         let start = range.start.max(last_offset);
         let end = range.end;
-        let trimmed = p.bidi.text[start .. end].trim_end();
+        let text = &p.bidi.text[start .. end];
+        let trimmed = text.trim_end();
         let shy = trimmed.ends_with('\u{ad}');
         dash = hyphen || shy || trimmed.ends_with(['-', '–', '—']);
+        justify |= text.ends_with('\u{2028}');
 
         // Usually, we don't want to shape an empty string because:
         // - We don't want the height of trimmed whitespace in a different
@@ -947,7 +951,7 @@ fn line<'a>(
         items,
         last,
         width,
-        mandatory,
+        justify,
         dash,
     }
 }
@@ -1050,7 +1054,7 @@ fn commit(
     let mut justification = Length::zero();
     if remaining < Length::zero()
         || (justify
-            && !line.mandatory
+            && line.justify
             && line.range.end < line.bidi.text.len()
             && fr.is_zero())
     {
diff --git a/src/library/text/raw.rs b/src/library/text/raw.rs
index 80b6ef2a2..db97da075 100644
--- a/src/library/text/raw.rs
+++ b/src/library/text/raw.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ impl Show for RawNode {
             let mut highlighter = HighlightLines::new(syntax, &THEME);
             for (i, line) in self.text.lines().enumerate() {
                 if i != 0 {
-                    seq.push(Content::Linebreak);
+                    seq.push(Content::Linebreak(false));
                 }
 
                 for (style, piece) in highlighter.highlight(line, &SYNTAXES) {
diff --git a/src/parse/mod.rs b/src/parse/mod.rs
index 92e864507..47cba1119 100644
--- a/src/parse/mod.rs
+++ b/src/parse/mod.rs
@@ -213,10 +213,11 @@ fn markup_node(p: &mut Parser, at_start: &mut bool) {
         // Text and markup.
         NodeKind::Text(_)
         | NodeKind::NonBreakingSpace
+        | NodeKind::Shy
         | NodeKind::EnDash
         | NodeKind::EmDash
         | NodeKind::Quote(_)
-        | NodeKind::Linebreak
+        | NodeKind::Linebreak(_)
         | NodeKind::Raw(_)
         | NodeKind::Math(_)
         | NodeKind::Escape(_) => {
diff --git a/src/parse/tokens.rs b/src/parse/tokens.rs
index a98ef2649..053a7f61e 100644
--- a/src/parse/tokens.rs
+++ b/src/parse/tokens.rs
@@ -264,42 +264,52 @@ impl<'s> Tokens<'s> {
     }
 
     fn backslash(&mut self) -> NodeKind {
-        match self.s.peek() {
-            Some(c) => match c {
-                // Backslash and comments.
-                '\\' | '/' |
-                // Parenthesis and hashtag.
-                '[' | ']' | '{' | '}' | '#' |
-                // Markup.
-                '~' | '\'' | '"' | '*' | '_' | '`' | '$' | '=' | '-' | '.' => {
-                    self.s.eat_assert(c) ;
-                    NodeKind::Escape(c)
-                }
-                'u' if self.s.rest().starts_with("u{") => {
-                    self.s.eat_assert('u');
-                    self.s.eat_assert('{');
-                    let sequence = self.s.eat_while(|c| c.is_ascii_alphanumeric());
-                    if self.s.eat_if('}') {
-                        if let Some(c) = resolve_hex(sequence) {
-                            NodeKind::Escape(c)
-                        } else {
-                            NodeKind::Error(
-                                ErrorPos::Full,
-                                "invalid unicode escape sequence".into(),
-                            )
-                        }
+        let c = match self.s.peek() {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return NodeKind::Linebreak(false),
+        };
+
+        match c {
+            // Backslash and comments.
+            '\\' | '/' |
+            // Parenthesis and hashtag.
+            '[' | ']' | '{' | '}' | '#' |
+            // Markup.
+            '~' | '\'' | '"' | '*' | '_' | '`' | '$' | '=' | '-' | '.' => {
+                self.s.eat_assert(c) ;
+                NodeKind::Escape(c)
+            }
+            'u' if self.s.rest().starts_with("u{") => {
+                self.s.eat_assert('u');
+                self.s.eat_assert('{');
+                let sequence = self.s.eat_while(|c| c.is_ascii_alphanumeric());
+                if self.s.eat_if('}') {
+                    if let Some(c) = resolve_hex(sequence) {
+                        NodeKind::Escape(c)
                     } else {
-                        self.terminated = false;
                         NodeKind::Error(
-                            ErrorPos::End,
-                            "expected closing brace".into(),
+                            ErrorPos::Full,
+                            "invalid unicode escape sequence".into(),
                         )
                     }
+                } else {
+                    self.terminated = false;
+                    NodeKind::Error(
+                        ErrorPos::End,
+                        "expected closing brace".into(),
+                    )
                 }
-                c if c.is_whitespace() => NodeKind::Linebreak,
-                _ => NodeKind::Text('\\'.into()),
-            },
-            None => NodeKind::Linebreak,
+            }
+
+            // Linebreaks.
+            c if c.is_whitespace() => NodeKind::Linebreak(false),
+            '+' => {
+                self.s.eat_assert(c);
+                NodeKind::Linebreak(true)
+            }
+
+            // Just the backslash.
+            _ => NodeKind::Text('\\'.into()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -323,6 +333,8 @@ impl<'s> Tokens<'s> {
             } else {
                 NodeKind::EnDash
             }
+        } else if self.s.eat_if('?') {
+            NodeKind::Shy
         } else {
             NodeKind::Minus
         }
@@ -845,8 +857,10 @@ mod tests {
         t!(Markup: "_"          => Underscore);
         t!(Markup[""]: "==="    => Eq, Eq, Eq);
         t!(Markup["a1/"]: "= "  => Eq, Space(0));
+        t!(Markup[" "]: r"\"    => Linebreak(false));
+        t!(Markup[" "]: r"\+"   => Linebreak(true));
         t!(Markup: "~"          => NonBreakingSpace);
-        t!(Markup[" "]: r"\"    => Linebreak);
+        t!(Markup["a1/"]: "-?"  => Shy);
         t!(Markup["a "]: r"a--" => Text("a"), EnDash);
         t!(Markup["a1/"]: "- "  => Minus, Space(0));
         t!(Markup[" "]: "."     => EnumNumbering(None));
diff --git a/src/syntax/ast.rs b/src/syntax/ast.rs
index d629b1fdc..b01eeb47a 100644
--- a/src/syntax/ast.rs
+++ b/src/syntax/ast.rs
@@ -62,10 +62,11 @@ impl Markup {
         self.0.children().filter_map(|node| match node.kind() {
             NodeKind::Space(2 ..) => Some(MarkupNode::Parbreak),
             NodeKind::Space(_) => Some(MarkupNode::Space),
-            NodeKind::Linebreak => Some(MarkupNode::Linebreak),
+            NodeKind::Linebreak(s) => Some(MarkupNode::Linebreak(*s)),
             NodeKind::Text(s) => Some(MarkupNode::Text(s.clone())),
             NodeKind::Escape(c) => Some(MarkupNode::Text((*c).into())),
             NodeKind::NonBreakingSpace => Some(MarkupNode::Text('\u{00A0}'.into())),
+            NodeKind::Shy => Some(MarkupNode::Text('\u{00AD}'.into())),
             NodeKind::EnDash => Some(MarkupNode::Text('\u{2013}'.into())),
             NodeKind::EmDash => Some(MarkupNode::Text('\u{2014}'.into())),
             NodeKind::Quote(d) => Some(MarkupNode::Quote(*d)),
@@ -86,8 +87,9 @@ impl Markup {
 pub enum MarkupNode {
     /// Whitespace containing less than two newlines.
     Space,
-    /// A forced line break: `\`.
-    Linebreak,
+    /// A forced line break. If soft (`\`, `true`), the preceding line can still
+    /// be justified, if hard (`\+`, `false`) not.
+    Linebreak(bool),
     /// A paragraph break: Two or more newlines.
     Parbreak,
     /// Plain text.
diff --git a/src/syntax/highlight.rs b/src/syntax/highlight.rs
index 90f1c548c..34e5b4a70 100644
--- a/src/syntax/highlight.rs
+++ b/src/syntax/highlight.rs
@@ -126,8 +126,9 @@ impl Category {
                 _ => Some(Category::Operator),
             },
             NodeKind::EnumNumbering(_) => Some(Category::List),
-            NodeKind::Linebreak => Some(Category::Shortcut),
+            NodeKind::Linebreak(_) => Some(Category::Shortcut),
             NodeKind::NonBreakingSpace => Some(Category::Shortcut),
+            NodeKind::Shy => Some(Category::Shortcut),
             NodeKind::EnDash => Some(Category::Shortcut),
             NodeKind::EmDash => Some(Category::Shortcut),
             NodeKind::Escape(_) => Some(Category::Escape),
diff --git a/src/syntax/mod.rs b/src/syntax/mod.rs
index f0d3cdd4a..1f02217a1 100644
--- a/src/syntax/mod.rs
+++ b/src/syntax/mod.rs
@@ -586,12 +586,15 @@ pub enum NodeKind {
     Markup(usize),
     /// One or more whitespace characters.
     Space(usize),
-    /// A forced line break: `\`.
-    Linebreak,
     /// A consecutive non-markup string.
     Text(EcoString),
+    /// A forced line break. If soft (`\`, `true`), the preceding line can still
+    /// be justified, if hard (`\+`, `false`) not.
+    Linebreak(bool),
     /// A non-breaking space: `~`.
     NonBreakingSpace,
+    /// A soft hyphen: `-?`.
+    Shy,
     /// An en-dash: `--`.
     EnDash,
     /// An em-dash: `---`.
@@ -766,7 +769,7 @@ impl NodeKind {
     pub fn only_in_mode(&self) -> Option<TokenMode> {
         match self {
             Self::Markup(_)
-            | Self::Linebreak
+            | Self::Linebreak(_)
             | Self::Text(_)
             | Self::NonBreakingSpace
             | Self::EnDash
@@ -859,9 +862,11 @@ impl NodeKind {
             Self::Markup(_) => "markup",
             Self::Space(2 ..) => "paragraph break",
             Self::Space(_) => "space",
-            Self::Linebreak => "forced linebreak",
+            Self::Linebreak(false) => "hard linebreak",
+            Self::Linebreak(true) => "soft linebreak",
             Self::Text(_) => "text",
             Self::NonBreakingSpace => "non-breaking space",
+            Self::Shy => "soft hyphen",
             Self::EnDash => "en dash",
             Self::EmDash => "em dash",
             Self::Quote(false) => "single quote",
@@ -981,9 +986,10 @@ impl Hash for NodeKind {
             Self::From => {}
             Self::Markup(c) => c.hash(state),
             Self::Space(n) => n.hash(state),
-            Self::Linebreak => {}
+            Self::Linebreak(s) => s.hash(state),
             Self::Text(s) => s.hash(state),
             Self::NonBreakingSpace => {}
+            Self::Shy => {}
             Self::EnDash => {}
             Self::EmDash => {}
             Self::Quote(d) => d.hash(state),
diff --git a/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png b/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png
index 48338f586..47a8ffa54 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png and b/tests/ref/text/hyphenate.png differ
diff --git a/tests/ref/text/linebreak.png b/tests/ref/text/linebreak.png
index 1498a8453..43ac9c68a 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/text/linebreak.png and b/tests/ref/text/linebreak.png differ
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ b/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ
index 02a332770..6bb87b13b 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/hyphenate.typ
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@ Welcome to wo#text(hyphenate: true)[nd]erful experiences. \
 #set text(lang: "en", hyphenate: true)
 It's a #emph[Tree]beard.
 
+---
+// Test shy hyphens.
+#set text(lang: "de", hyphenate: true)
+#grid(
+  columns: 2 * (20pt,),
+  gutter: 20pt,
+  [Barankauf],
+  [Bar-?ankauf],
+)
+
 ---
 // This sequence would confuse hypher if we passed trailing / leading
 // punctuation instead of just the words. So this tests that we don't
diff --git a/tests/typ/text/linebreak.typ b/tests/typ/text/linebreak.typ
index ff8559d6a..bee17c6bc 100644
--- a/tests/typ/text/linebreak.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/text/linebreak.typ
@@ -26,3 +26,8 @@ Two consecutive \ \ breaks and three \ \ \ more.
 ---
 // Test forcing an empty trailing line.
 Trailing break \ \
+
+---
+// Test soft breaks.
+#set par(justify: true)
+With a soft \+ break you can force a break without breaking justification.