<!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>