In case this happens to anyone else, I just found a solution. Simply deleting any text in the lyric box didn't help - even selecting all and deleting. Just used the <type into score> tool, clicked ...
Wow, I'm using 26.3.1 as well, and yes, applied music spacing and update layout. On Mac OS 12, if that matters. Your eighth notes are spaced better as well. Do you think some box is unchecked somew...
Sigh. Just did. Seems like not having basic elements collide should be a priority... Looks exactly the same in v27. On the bright side I don't need to pay for an upgrade!