In \boxedcolumns text a framed test gets extra (unwanted) depth (first example). This does not happen in \simplecolumns (second example). See the ABCD-boxes in the minimal example. Downloaded the latest beta: ConTeXt ver: 2015.08.24 10:53 MKIV beta fmt: 2015.8.24 int: english/english \starttext \startboxedcolumns[n=3] \framed{ABCD}\blank\input knuth \stopboxedcolumns \blank \startsimplecolumns[n=3] \framed{ABCD}\blank\input knuth \stopsimplecolumns \stoptext