Using the latest nov 14 version of context i get now separating line between columns. \startcolumns[n=2,rule=on] \input knuth \stopcolumns Has the syntax changed? mtx-context | main context file: /home/vm/data/context/tex/texmf-context/tex/context/base/mkiv/context.mkxl mtx-context | current version: 2019.11.14 17:47