atw: Re: Paragraph spacing
- From: SUNTER Bede <Bede_SUNTER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:27:24 +1000
Hi Sonja
At the moment I use the rather traditional mix of typefaces: Arial for headings
(typically 20, 16, 12, 10 pt) and tables (10 pt), Times New Roman (12 pt) for
body text ... please don't laugh.
This is because the fonts are robust and my users are accustomed to them. (I
write for an aging workforce who refuse to wear glasses)
I've started using Calibri lately and am planning a new generation of
templates. I admire Calibri (if somewhat begrudgingly) -- it's a handsome
typeface. I realise I'm still writing emails in Arial though.
11 point seems to work quite well with 11 points of space before. This is
purely empirical ... 'look and feel' rather than science.
I don't think there are any hard-and-fast rules about how much space should
precede text of a certain size, although I'm sure that, lurking on the web
there is a welter of advice.
The Australian Style manual recommends a half of the leading added as space
between paragraphs in 'block' paragraphs (block = no first line indent). And
the leading should be equal to the font size. So, 12 pt type should have 12 pt
leading and six pts between paragraphs. I prefer to use 12, but that's my
preference.
Why not experiment? If you'd rather 8 points then have 8 points, and try other
spacings.
Bede
________________________________
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of McShane, Sonja A
Sent: Monday, 18 July 2011 9:30 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Paragraph spacing
Hi Bede,
For what font and what font size are these spaces for?
These days I'm using Calibri a lot. Usually the body text font size is 10.5,
and although 6 pts above isn't too bad, if I had my way I'd prefer 8 pts.
Maybe there's a need for a chart or something that shows generally acceptable
guidelines for spacing between different fonts and font sizes? Does anyone know
if something like this is already out there? (I haven't searched yet.)
Sonja
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of SUNTER Bede
Sent: Sunday, 17 July 2011 3:12 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Paragraph spacing
I have, for a long time, taken a different approach to space than what seems to
be the consensus.
I only put space before -- typically 18 pts for headings, 12 for body text, 6
for bullet lists and 3 for table text. I use 3 points before and after for
table text so that the text doesn't commit unmentionables with the underside
rule of the table.
This means that spacing is always consistent. I've noticed that different
versions of Word handle para space differently leading to inconsistent spacing
across versions. So the single-side spacing was my preferred solution.
The only problem arises when a block of body text precedes a table (the
unmentionables again). For this I created a 'space' style - a para set to
exactly 6 points (applied by a keyboard shortcut of course).
Sounds complicated but it's actually simple when you decide to do it that way
and set up accordingly.
Bede
________________________________
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of bja
Sent: Saturday, 16 July 2011 12:28 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Paragraph spacing
Hi Terry,
1st para = 3pt below
Next para = 6pt above
The greater value (6pt) is the space between paras and is therefore dominant
over the 3pt value of the 1st para which becomes irrelevant.
Anne didn't qualify her statement by stipulating which tool adds the two values
(a tool I haven't come across yet) so I'll simply qualify my statement by
saying this is the way it works in Word and FrameMaker.
Cheers,
Bruce
________________________________
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Terry Dowling
Sent: Friday, 15 July 2011 4:21 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Paragraph spacing
Hi Bruce,
Meant to ask before... What do you mean by dominant in the following?
Cheers,
Terry
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of bja
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 18:28
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Paragraph spacing
... way the greater value is always the dominant one.
Cheers,
Bruce
________________________________
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