How do you like your format?

JSWolf · 06-19-2007, 11:35 AM

Do you prefer your paragraphs to have line separation between them like most palm formatted books or do you like your paragraphs to not have the line space?

If you chose no line space,would you like to have the formatters bother to remove them whenever possible?

I don't care for the line spaces and using Word, it's very easy to remove the line spaces in a text file.

RWood · 06-19-2007, 12:43 PM

While I like line spaces -- old habits die hard -- another thread about the same topic seemed to end with the majority favoring no additional space between paragraphs.

I have tried, for the most part, to make the Harvard Classics series conform to this standard. For my own use only I still insert the extra line between paragraphs.

HarryT · 06-19-2007, 12:44 PM

It depends on the device.

On a device with a small screen (Palm/Pocket PC) I prefer unindented paragraphs with a blank line between them.

On a larger screen (eg Sony Reader) I prefer paragraphs with an indented first line and no blank lines between paragraphs.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 06-19-2007, 01:48 PM

I'm with HarrtT... either way works for me.

NatCh · 06-19-2007, 01:51 PM

I liked the "unindented with lines between the paragraphs" for the Palm too, I found that with the smaller screen I needed the extra visual cue. The Reader doesn't, not for me anyway, and I really have no intention of going back to reading on my Palm.

BruceW · 06-19-2007, 02:27 PM

What about following the "Type Setting" standard of after a paragraph (hard return) that instead of the normal spacing between lines it is increased by 1/2. This is what is what the new style guides define as proper when using all electronic publication devises and word processors. All newspapers and printed books (yes I mean those antiquated devises) currently use.

This convention makes indented or non indented paragraphs very easy to identify and read. The use of an additional blank line after a paragraph is on old typewriter convention that should have disappeared years ago.

If we are going to be using modern devises lets do it properly if at all possible.

yvanleterrible · 06-19-2007, 02:41 PM

For me it only depends on the width of the page. If the page is pretty wide, my eyes will tend to wander from a line to the other. Having a space will help to stay focused on a particular line with more ease.

I believe this to be one of the factors why multiple columns were used in wide format printing. If everything was printed the whole width, they'd have had to put spacing lines. With multiple columns they did'nt and were able to cram more text on a page. And since printing was difficult and expensive...

The reader is not wide enough to justify the need for an extra line other than esthetics.

NatCh · 06-19-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceW

If we are going to be using modern devises lets do it properly if at all possible.

The thing is that all these conventions are arbitrary ones based on what works best for people, so there will always be folks for whom a different way works better. This is one of those things where "most popular" is a better label than "proper" will ever be, regardless of nice it would be if there were a clear right answer.

Hadrien · 06-19-2007, 03:20 PM

I'm used to paperback books and on those, there's no blank lines between the paragraphs. Instead of this, the paragraphs are idented.

That's what we're using on Feedbooks.

JSWolf · 06-19-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceW

What about following the "Type Setting" standard of after a paragraph (hard return) that instead of the normal spacing between lines it is increased by 1/2. This is what is what the new style guides define as proper when using all electronic publication devises and word processors. All newspapers and printed books (yes I mean those antiquated devises) currently use.

This convention makes indented or non indented paragraphs very easy to identify and read. The use of an additional blank line after a paragraph is on old typewriter convention that should have disappeared years ago.

If we are going to be using modern devises lets do it properly if at all possible.

I'm looking at a fairly recent paperback book and there are not 1/2 line spaces between the paragraphs. In fact, I've not see any books that do that. Besides, as long as you indent each paragraph, then there is no need for any extra space between the paragraphs.

BruceW · 06-19-2007, 04:01 PM

OK so going to the references

was a bad idea again

but I still think that adding an additional 1/2 line would be be a good solution/compromise so that non indented paragraphs and indented paragraphs would work equally well.

I like this compromise. Maybe it is because I am a Canadian and therefore I am genetically programmed to compromise.

Andanzas · 06-20-2007, 06:27 AM

I prefer indented paragraphs as well. Blank lines between paragraphs are disorienting (I am not used to them). Because they inflate the number of pages, then it's more difficult for me to calculate how much time I am going to need to read something. Well, not a big deal, but still...

astra · 06-20-2007, 07:04 AM

I have voted for the first option but I am not sure I have choosen the right one. It would be nice if someone could post one example for each option. full soony reader screen pic.

yvanleterrible · 06-20-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceW

I like this compromise. Maybe it is because I am a Canadian and therefore I am genetically programmed to compromise.

No way around it eh!

nekokami · 06-20-2007, 09:24 AM

I like a half-line between paragraphs. I can go either way with indentation.

View Poll Results: Do you like/dislike line spaces in ebooks?
Line spaces make it more enjoyable to read an ebook	13	44.83%
I dislike line spaces, but will read the ebook anyway	16	55.17%
I will not read an ebook that have line spaces	0	0%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll

06-19-2007, 11:35 AM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	How do you like your format? Do you prefer your paragraphs to have line separation between them like most palm formatted books or do you like your paragraphs to not have the line space? If you chose no line space,would you like to have the formatters bother to remove them whenever possible? I don't care for the line spaces and using Word, it's very easy to remove the line spaces in a text file.

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06-19-2007, 12:43 PM	#2
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	While I like line spaces -- old habits die hard -- another thread about the same topic seemed to end with the majority favoring no additional space between paragraphs. I have tried, for the most part, to make the Harvard Classics series conform to this standard. For my own use only I still insert the extra line between paragraphs.

06-19-2007, 12:44 PM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It depends on the device. On a device with a small screen (Palm/Pocket PC) I prefer unindented paragraphs with a blank line between them. On a larger screen (eg Sony Reader) I prefer paragraphs with an indented first line and no blank lines between paragraphs.

06-19-2007, 01:48 PM	#4
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I'm with HarrtT... either way works for me.

06-19-2007, 01:51 PM	#5
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I liked the "unindented with lines between the paragraphs" for the Palm too, I found that with the smaller screen I needed the extra visual cue. The Reader doesn't, not for me anyway, and I really have no intention of going back to reading on my Palm.

06-19-2007, 02:27 PM	#6
BruceW Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 773 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Sony Reader	What about following the "Type Setting" standard of after a paragraph (hard return) that instead of the normal spacing between lines it is increased by 1/2. This is what is what the new style guides define as proper when using all electronic publication devises and word processors. All newspapers and printed books (yes I mean those antiquated devises) currently use. This convention makes indented or non indented paragraphs very easy to identify and read. The use of an additional blank line after a paragraph is on old typewriter convention that should have disappeared years ago. If we are going to be using modern devises lets do it properly if at all possible.

06-19-2007, 02:41 PM	#7
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	For me it only depends on the width of the page. If the page is pretty wide, my eyes will tend to wander from a line to the other. Having a space will help to stay focused on a particular line with more ease. I believe this to be one of the factors why multiple columns were used in wide format printing. If everything was printed the whole width, they'd have had to put spacing lines. With multiple columns they did'nt and were able to cram more text on a page. And since printing was difficult and expensive... The reader is not wide enough to justify the need for an extra line other than esthetics.

06-19-2007, 03:20 PM	#9
Hadrien Feedbooks.com Co-Founder Posts: 2,263 Karma: 145123 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Paris, France Device: Sony PRS-t-1/350/300/500/505/600/700, Nexus S, iPad	I'm used to paperback books and on those, there's no blank lines between the paragraphs. Instead of this, the paragraphs are idented. That's what we're using on Feedbooks.

06-19-2007, 04:01 PM	#11
BruceW Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 773 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Sony Reader	OK so going to the references was a bad idea again but I still think that adding an additional 1/2 line would be be a good solution/compromise so that non indented paragraphs and indented paragraphs would work equally well. I like this compromise. Maybe it is because I am a Canadian and therefore I am genetically programmed to compromise.

06-20-2007, 06:27 AM	#12
Andanzas Out of print Posts: 484 Karma: 1549538 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Sony PRS-500 (recycled), Pocketbook Inkpad X Pro	I prefer indented paragraphs as well. Blank lines between paragraphs are disorienting (I am not used to them). Because they inflate the number of pages, then it's more difficult for me to calculate how much time I am going to need to read something. Well, not a big deal, but still...

06-20-2007, 07:04 AM	#13
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I have voted for the first option but I am not sure I have choosen the right one. It would be nice if someone could post one example for each option. full soony reader screen pic.

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06-20-2007, 09:24 AM	#15
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	I like a half-line between paragraphs. I can go either way with indentation.