<!DOCTYPE html>
<style>
.fakeColumn { float:left; width:1em; }
</style>
<p>Outlines shouldn't affect layout. This obviously also applies inside multicol.</p>
<p>Below, the word "PASS" should be seen on a straight line three times, with large letter spacing, inside a blue box.</p>
<div style="padding:2px; width:4em; height:7em; line-height:2em; background:blue; color:white;">
<span class="fakeColumn">
P<br>P<br>P<br>
</span>
<span class="fakeColumn">
A<br>A<br>A<br>
</span>
<span class="fakeColumn">
S<br>S<br>S<br>
</span>
<span class="fakeColumn">
S<br>S<br>S<br>
</span>
</div>