diff --git a/ternary/lines.py b/ternary/lines.py
index baa123b..a7708ad 100644
--- a/ternary/lines.py
+++ b/ternary/lines.py
@@ -278,20 +278,23 @@ def ticks(ax, scale, ticks=None, locations=None, multiple=1, axis='b',
             if clockwise:
                 # Right parallel
                 loc2 = (scale - i, i + offset, 0)
-                text_location = (scale - i, i + 2 * offset, 0)
+                text_location = (scale - i, i + 1.5 * offset, 0)
                 tick = ticks[-(index+1)]
+                valign = "baseline"
             else:
                 # Horizontal
                 loc2 = (scale - i + offset, i, 0)
-                text_location = (scale - i + 2.6 * offset, i - 0.5 * offset, 0)
+                text_location = (scale - i + 1.5 * offset, i, 0)
                 tick = ticks[index]
+                valign = "center"
             line(ax, loc1, loc2, color=axes_colors['r'], **kwargs)
             x, y = project_point(text_location)
             if isinstance(tick, str):
                 s = tick
             else:
                 s = tick_formats['r'] % tick
-            ax.text(x, y, s, horizontalalignment="center",
+            ax.text(x, y, s,
+                    horizontalalignment="left", verticalalignment=valign,
                     color=axes_colors['r'], fontsize=fontsize)
 
     if 'l' in axis:
@@ -300,20 +303,23 @@ def ticks(ax, scale, ticks=None, locations=None, multiple=1, axis='b',
             if clockwise:
                 # Horizontal
                 loc2 = (-offset, i, 0)
-                text_location = (-2 * offset, i - 0.5 * offset, 0)
+                text_location = (- 1.5 * offset, i, 0)
                 tick = ticks[index]
+                valign = "center"
             else:
                 # Right parallel
                 loc2 = (-offset, i + offset, 0)
-                text_location = (-2 * offset, i + 1.5 * offset, 0)
+                text_location = (-1.5 * offset, i + 1.5 * offset, 0)
                 tick = ticks[-(index+1)]
+                valign = "baseline"
             line(ax, loc1, loc2, color=axes_colors['l'], **kwargs)
             x, y = project_point(text_location)
             if isinstance(tick, str):
                 s = tick
             else:
                 s = tick_formats['l'] % tick
-            ax.text(x, y, s, horizontalalignment="center",
+            ax.text(x, y, s,
+                    horizontalalignment="right", verticalalignment=valign,
                     color=axes_colors['l'], fontsize=fontsize)
 
     if 'b' in axis:
@@ -322,12 +328,12 @@ def ticks(ax, scale, ticks=None, locations=None, multiple=1, axis='b',
             if clockwise:
                 # Right parallel
                 loc2 = (i + offset, -offset, 0)
-                text_location = (i + 3 * offset, -3.5 * offset, 0)
+                text_location = (i + 1.5 * offset, -1.5 * offset, 0)
                 tick = ticks[-(index+1)]
             else:
                 # Left parallel
                 loc2 = (i, -offset, 0)
-                text_location = (i + 0.5 * offset, -3.5 * offset, 0)
+                text_location = (i, -1.5 * offset, 0)
                 tick = ticks[index]
             line(ax, loc1, loc2, color=axes_colors['b'], **kwargs)
             x, y = project_point(text_location)
@@ -335,5 +341,6 @@ def ticks(ax, scale, ticks=None, locations=None, multiple=1, axis='b',
                 s = tick
             else:
                 s = tick_formats['b'] % tick
-            ax.text(x, y, s, horizontalalignment="center",
+            ax.text(x, y, s,
+                    horizontalalignment="center", verticalalignment="top",
                     color=axes_colors['b'], fontsize=fontsize)