At Google we use the following rule (from http://google-styleguide.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/pyguide.html#Indentation): Yes: # Aligned with opening delimiter foo = long_function_name(var_one, var_two, var_three, var_four) # 4-space hanging indent; nothing on first line foo = long_function_name( var_one, var_two, var_three, var_four) No: # Stuff on first line forbidden foo = long_function_name(var_one, var_two, var_three, var_four) # 2-space hanging indent forbidden foo = long_function_name( var_one, var_two, var_three, var_four) I propose we somehow incorporate these two allowed alternatives into PEP 8. They both serve a purpose. -- --Guido van Rossum (python.org/~guido)