what is the default \parskip value?
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I noticed that the default \parskip is zero on my
system. This is because when I have this file:
------- start file -----
\documentclass[onecolumn]{article}
\begin{document}
line 1
line 2
\end{document}
------ end file -----
Now I Latex the above file and look at the output
and I see this:
line 1
line 2
i.e. no spacing between paragraphs.
I am using this:
This is TeXk, Version 3.14159 (Web2C 7.4.5)
on cygwin.
(if I use \par same result).
But when I added this line
\setlength{\parskip}{3pt plus 2pt}
then I can now see the spacing between paragraphs.
Is this the normal behavior? it seems odd to me that
I have to tell latex to add vertical spacing between
paragraphs, when the whole point of a paragraph is
that.
thank you,
--nospam
Lars Madsen
> But when I added this line
>
> \setlength{\parskip}{3pt plus 2pt}
>
> then I can now see the spacing between paragraphs.
>
default value
\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\the\parskip
\end{document}
> Is this the normal behavior? it seems odd to me that
> I have to tell latex to add vertical spacing between
> paragraphs, when the whole point of a paragraph is
> that.
no it isn't, there should not be any spacing between paragraphs
and that is the default. It has a little bit of glue but that all.
--
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Remember to post minimal working examples.
José Carlos Santos
> I noticed that the default \parskip is zero on my
Actually, the default value is 0pt plus 1pt. How do I know that. Because
I saw the file latex.ltx and it contains the line
\parskip=0pt plus 1pt
> system. This is because when I have this file:
>
> ------- start file -----
>
> \documentclass[onecolumn]{article}
> \begin{document}
>
> line 1
>
>
> line 2
>
> \end{document}
>
> ------ end file -----
>
> Now I Latex the above file and look at the output
> and I see this:
>
> line 1
> line 2
>
> i.e. no spacing between paragraphs.
> Is this the normal behavior? it seems odd to me that
> I have to tell latex to add vertical spacing between
> paragraphs, when the whole point of a paragraph is
> that.
Why do you say that? Open any ordinary book. Do you see any vertical
space between paragraphs? I don't.
Best regards,
Jose Carlos Santos
Lars Madsen
>
> Why do you say that? Open any ordinary book. Do you see any vertical
> space between paragraphs? I don't.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Jose Carlos Santos
quite a few american textbooks (in math or economics) actually use the
noindentation + vertical space between paragraphs, which is why I have a lot of
problems convincing our students not to use this layout.
nospam nospam
>
>>
>> Why do you say that? Open any ordinary book. Do you see any vertical
>> space between paragraphs? I don't.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Jose Carlos Santos
>
>
> quite a few american textbooks (in math or economics) actually use the
> noindentation + vertical space between paragraphs,
Yes, this is what I was expecting. I did the \noindent, but
was expecting a vetrical space.
>which is why I have a
> lot of problems convincing our students not to use this layout.
>
But it is more readable when there is a vertical space
between paragraphs.
Clearly if your students prefer vertical space bettwen pars and
with no indenting (which is what I also prefer, and I am a
student too :), may be it is becuase it is easier to read
that way?
Harry Schmidt
>> quite a few american textbooks (in math or economics) actually use
>> the noindentation + vertical space between paragraphs,
>
> Yes, this is what I was expecting. I did the \noindent, but
> was expecting a vetrical space.
\noindent is only to suppress indentation of a single paragraph. To
change/suppress indentation globally adjust \parindent. Or, better
yet, use the setspace-package.
>>which is why I have a
>> lot of problems convincing our students not to use this layout.
>>
>
> But it is more readable when there is a vertical space
> between paragraphs.
I disagree. I think it is terrible in longer texts and it reduces
readability. Which is why most books (all that I own) use only
indentation but no vertical space.
> Clearly if your students prefer vertical space bettwen pars and
> with no indenting (which is what I also prefer, and I am a
> student too :), may be it is becuase it is easier to read
> that way?
No. It's because they use(d) Word and there they marked paragraphs
with one blank line. They never thought about it, hardly anyone does.
But it looks terrible (imho -- but I'm not alone).
Harry
--
When you are in it up to your ears, keep your mouth shut.
Markus Heller
[...]
> No. It's because they use(d) Word and there they marked paragraphs
> with one blank line. They never thought about it, hardly anyone does.
> But it looks terrible (imho -- but I'm not alone).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
true. i support harry :-)
cheers
markus
> Harry
>
>
nospam nospam
Ok, I changed my mind.
I agree with you guys now. I now have removed the \noindent and
removed the vertical spacing between pars as well.
May be working with word for so long got me into this
habit, but after looking at many books I have, I agree
that this way looks more professional. I am trying
to get away from using word alltogother if I can.
Lars Madsen
Most typographic manuals advise people not to use the noindentation + blank
space between paragraphs.
Word may be good for some things, but typographic considerations have never been
an issue with word.
--
/daleif (remove RTFSIGNATURE from email address)
(who hasn't used word in ages)
José Carlos Santos
> Ok, I changed my mind.
In the case that you change it again :-) read the FAQ:
http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=parskip
us...@domain.invalid
Harry Schmidt wrote:
Clearly if your students prefer vertical space bettwen pars and with no indenting (which is what I also prefer, and I am a student too :), may be it is becuase it is easier to read that way?No. It's because they use(d) Word and there they marked paragraphs with one blank line. They never thought about it, hardly anyone does. But it looks terrible (imho -- but I'm not alone). Harry
I was only missing the mark 50%), and indeed, instantly it looks much more professional. Wow, and that just
before the manual goes to print.
Ton 't Lam