In a pattern recognition apparatus for recognizing a pattern including a line pattern consisting of a plurality of line segments, there is proposed a line recognition method which comprises steps of: recognizing the coordinates of end points of each of segments constituting a line pattern; employing the coordinates of an end point of a first line segment as base point coordinates; deciding whether the distance between the base point and an end point of a second line segment is less than a certain value or not; employing as a suitable point the end point of the second line segment with said distance being less than the certain value; and selecting a connectable second line segment and connecting said suitable point to the base point of the first line segment.