When you want to exactly align anchor points that lie close to each other but are not “coincident” – in this case meaning they are not lying directly on top of each other – you can use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to marquee them and then use either the Horizontal or the Vertical Align buttons to put them in alignment with each other.

Using the Direct Selection Tool (A) to marquee (see below):

The three selected anchor points (see below):

Horizontal Align buttons will move each of your selections horizontally to align them. So they will, each on its own horizontal plane, move back and/or forth until they are in alignment with each other. This results in them aligning on the same vertical axis.

Horizontal Align Left

The three selected anchor points before (see below):

The three selected anchor points after are aligned with the left-most anchor point (see below):

Horizontal Align Center

The three selected anchor points before (see below):

The three selected anchor points after are aligned with the center-most anchor point (see below):

Horizontal Align Right

The three selected anchor points before (see below):

The three selected anchor points after they are aligned with the right-most anchor point (see below):

Vertical Align buttons move your selections vertically to align them. So they will, each on its own vertical plane, move up and/or down until they are in alignment with each other. This results in them aligning on the same horizontal axis.

Vertical Align Top

The three selected anchor points before (see below):

The three selected anchor points after are aligned with the topmost anchor point (see below):

Vertical Align Center

The three selected anchor points before (see below):

The three selected anchor points after are aligned with the centermost anchor point (see below):

Vertical Align Bottom

The three selected anchor points before (see below):

The three selected anchor points after are aligned with the bottommost anchor point (see below):

Any questions?

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