User:CHGiffen/Spacing
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Here are the various space characters inserted between ">" and "<":
>char<
char =
description (what you should see)
> <   en space > <   en space >n< n compare with en space > <   em space > <   em space >m< m compare with em space > <   1/3 em space, thick space > <   1/4 em space, mid space > <   1/6 em space > <   figure space >9< <tt>9</tt> compare with figure space > <   punctuation space > <   thin space > <   thin space > <   hair space >< ​ zero width space
Here are the equivalents in numbers of hair spaces of the various space characters (in my browser):
- || (no space at all)
- | | one hair
- | | two hairs
- | | 1/6 em space character U+2006
- | | thin space character U+2009
- | | three hairs
- | | 1/4 em space character U+2005
- | | four hairs
- | | 1/3 em space character U+2004
- | | punctuation space character U+2008
- | | five hairs
- | | six hairs
- | | seven hairs
- | | en space character U+2002
- | | eight hairs
- | | figure (digit) space character U+2007
- | | nine hairs
- | | ten hairs
- | | eleven hairs
- | | twelve hairs
- | | thirteen hairs
- | | em space character U+2003
Such spaces can be judiciously used to achieve desired effects. In particular, kerning with a hairspace after an italicized numeral or high ascending letter (such as lowercase l) before a right parenthesis ")", right bracket "]", or right brace "}" will improve the appearance:
- compare (379) with (379 ), wherein the latter has one hairspace between the 9 and the ); or,
- compare (3 types of metal) with (3 types of metal ), kerned with a hairspace in the same way.