It's an either/or proposition.ĭon't use first line-indents on centered or right-aligned type.Īny paragraph spacing values will be overridden by the baseline grid if you align all the lines of your paragraph to the grid. To some degree it's a matter of preference, but here are some things to consider:ĭon't use first-line indents and paragraph spacing. While first-line indents are generally more suited to reading matter, be it magazine or newspaper articles or literature, paragraph spacing may be more appropriate for reference material. Don't create your first-line indents with tabs, or worse, by pressing the spacebar multiple times.įigure 9.2. How (and How Not) to Add First-Line Indentsįirst-line indents can be applied through the Control palette, or better yet, incorporated into a style sheet definition. Just make sure your first-line indent is not bigger than the exit lines of your paragraphs, as this will create ugly areas of trapped space between paragraphs. Some people prefer a slightly larger indent, especially if they're working with wide columns. Alternatively you can use your leading increment so that if your text is 10/12, then a 12-point first line indent is suitable. Anything less and the indent may be missed.

If you're using 10-point type, a 10-point first-line indent is suitable. There is no hard and fast rule, but 1 em is a good starting point. While blunt beginnings seem to create a uniform and consistent impression when compared to normal typesetting, this impression is paid for with a serious loss of comprehension.' How Big Should They Be? And that is its most important disadvantage. Paragraphs without indent…are a bad habit and should be eliminated.' And more: 'Typesetting without indentation makes it difficult for the reader to comprehend what has been printed.

The famous typographer wrote several articles about first-line indents and was unequivocal on the subject: 'The beginnings of paragraphs must be indented. They're indents on the first line of a paragraph. You wouldn't think there would be too much to say about first-line indents. The humble first-line indent plays a crucial role in the readability of documents, notifying the reader that one paragraph has ended and a new one is about to begin.

Applying first line indent in word