Preference: Paragraph indent or a little paragraph spacing? - Page 2

Nyssa · 11-02-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekster

I prefer both as well. The indent identifies a new paragraph much better, but no space makes me feel like the book is too cluttered.

cfrizz · 11-02-2011, 08:03 PM

I prefer spacing.

Eskarina · 11-02-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayne80

indent, no spacing, all that extra spacing takes up takes up space that could have more lines of writing on them.

I also like a space and no indent for scene breaks (plus some other indication such as bolded or all caps first few words). I use Calibre to strip out the extra space between paragraphs and it's always a hit and miss whether Calibre maintains the spacing between scene breaks.

tmclough · 11-02-2011, 11:57 PM

I prefer indent and no space, except for scene changes. There, I prefer 3 or 4 asterisks between paragraphs, similar to what you find in pbooks with scene changes that occur at the end of a page. That said, a blank line is still better than nothing.

I don't use Calibre because every time I've used it, it not only removes the unwanted space between every pair'o'graphs

, it also removes the scene changes, which is worse in my opinion. Now that I use CoolReader with its own CSS file on my PocketPro, I don't have to worry about that anymore.

seajewel · 11-03-2011, 12:05 AM

and this is why Stanza was so awesome, and why I wish more e-ink readers would give us the option of choosing margins, line spacing, indent/no indent, paragraph spacing. Everyone has a preference.

HansTWN · 11-03-2011, 02:14 AM

I use FBReader on my Irex to automatically reformat the books so that I have both.

afa · 11-03-2011, 02:25 AM

Indent, definitely.

I get really annoyed with ebooks that have spacing between the paragraphs. This is particularly an issue with certain books that have 'section' breaks, which is usually denoted by spacing. If all the paragraphs are spaced, you can't tell where the section break is, and it bugs me.

lindsayw · 11-03-2011, 02:58 AM

Paragraph indents AND a half-line space between, belt and braces, perhaps, but unmistakable when reading. Someone suggested extra space should be filled with more text... what!!? No trees are killed in the making of eBooks; white space makes the reading experience easier, and that ultimately means more satisfied readers. I agree that the normal html <p> spacing – a whole blank line between each paragraph – is fugly, but a half-line looks pleasant and shouts "Paragraph". CSS allows "em" spacing so the half-line gap may be maintained whatever font size the reader chooses to display.

Billi · 11-03-2011, 03:16 AM

Problems with space instead of indents might occur when you have books with many dialogues, especially when paragraphs consist just of one sentence/line. This can look very ugly with spaces around.

1611mac · 11-03-2011, 03:21 AM

OP here.... Thanks all for the great responses. Appreciate it!

Blossom · 11-03-2011, 03:28 AM

I prefer both too.

Richey79 · 11-03-2011, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

I like both. But, if I had to pick just one, I'd probably have to go with the extra spacing.

Since ther's no poll, I'll quote this.

It looks slightly nicer to me without an indent, but then you've got the new page / new paragraph problem.

Jellby · 11-03-2011, 05:02 AM

Indents and no space. If it's an ePUB, make it simple to modify (don't use lots of classes for paragraphs, each setting their own margins and indent).

ghostyjack · 11-03-2011, 05:15 AM

I'll go with an indent and no space as well, I find it perfectly easy to read, especially as a spacing is frequently used for a scene-break.

This way I'll know which is a scene-break and which is a new paragraph.

Blossom · 11-03-2011, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostyjack

I'll go with an indent and no space as well, I find it perfectly easy to read, especially as a spacing is frequently used for a scene-break.

This way I'll know which is a scene-break and which is a new paragraph.

I use * * * for scene breaks. Calibre adds them for you.

11-02-2011, 11:57 PM	#19
tmclough Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 500010 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Greenfield, MA Device: Astak EZ Reader Pocket PRO	I prefer indent and no space, except for scene changes. There, I prefer 3 or 4 asterisks between paragraphs, similar to what you find in pbooks with scene changes that occur at the end of a page. That said, a blank line is still better than nothing. I don't use Calibre because every time I've used it, it not only removes the unwanted space between every pair'o'graphs, it also removes the scene changes, which is worse in my opinion. Now that I use CoolReader with its own CSS file on my PocketPro, I don't have to worry about that anymore.

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11-02-2011, 08:03 PM	#17
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 34583358 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	I prefer spacing.

11-03-2011, 12:05 AM	#20
seajewel Fanatic Posts: 589 Karma: 1451235 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-950	and this is why Stanza was so awesome, and why I wish more e-ink readers would give us the option of choosing margins, line spacing, indent/no indent, paragraph spacing. Everyone has a preference.

11-03-2011, 02:14 AM	#21
HansTWN Wizard Posts: 4,538 Karma: 264065402 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD	I use FBReader on my Irex to automatically reformat the books so that I have both.

11-03-2011, 02:25 AM	#22
afa The Forgotten Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4689999 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dubai Device: Kindle Paperwhite; Nook HD; Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	Indent, definitely. I get really annoyed with ebooks that have spacing between the paragraphs. This is particularly an issue with certain books that have 'section' breaks, which is usually denoted by spacing. If all the paragraphs are spaced, you can't tell where the section break is, and it bugs me.

11-03-2011, 02:58 AM	#23
lindsayw Author from pBook days Posts: 49 Karma: 10782 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kindle-3-Keyboard; 8" Android Tablet	Paragraph indents AND a half-line space between, belt and braces, perhaps, but unmistakable when reading. Someone suggested extra space should be filled with more text... what!!? No trees are killed in the making of eBooks; white space makes the reading experience easier, and that ultimately means more satisfied readers. I agree that the normal html <p> spacing – a whole blank line between each paragraph – is fugly, but a half-line looks pleasant and shouts "Paragraph". CSS allows "em" spacing so the half-line gap may be maintained whatever font size the reader chooses to display.

11-03-2011, 03:16 AM	#24
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Problems with space instead of indents might occur when you have books with many dialogues, especially when paragraphs consist just of one sentence/line. This can look very ugly with spaces around.

11-03-2011, 03:21 AM	#25
1611mac eWanderer Posts: 523 Karma: 1441998 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: iMac,iPad3,iPhone5-Kindle Fire,Touch,PaperWhite	OP here.... Thanks all for the great responses. Appreciate it!

11-03-2011, 03:28 AM	#26
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I prefer both too.

11-03-2011, 05:02 AM	#28
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,516 Karma: 18512745 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Indents and no space. If it's an ePUB, make it simple to modify (don't use lots of classes for paragraphs, each setting their own margins and indent).

11-03-2011, 05:15 AM	#29
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	I'll go with an indent and no space as well, I find it perfectly easy to read, especially as a spacing is frequently used for a scene-break. This way I'll know which is a scene-break and which is a new paragraph.

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