5-point indent?
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The best way to set paragraph indentation in any usable word-processor is with the ruler at the top of the display. It automates the process, no space-bar or tab-key necessary.
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Don't use five spaces, and don't use tab. Use the indentation marker on the ruler of your Word processor.
There is a difference between indenting a paragraph and the tab key. Depending on what word processor you're using, get to the Format>Paragraph dialog box, then select first line indent and set it for 1/2 inch or the metric equivalent. While you're in that form, insure you set 0 space before and after each paragraph, and Double line spacing.
Jeez, I've written two novels without knowing about this. This is awesome! No more tabs! Yay!
Question: At the start of each chapter, I include "CHAPTER X". Unfortunately, that line is treated as a first line and is indented. Do I have to manually slide the indentation marker to zero for each of these? Not a big deal--I'd only have to do that about 25 times per novel. But if there's a way for that to be automated, so much the better.
The tab works just fine, and the default tab setting is almost certainly correct. The auto-indent Word uses is also just fine, as is that of any other word processor that has the feature.
If you think you might eventually self-publish, avoid use of the tab key. Some file converter programs choke on tab characters for some reason.
For example, Smashwords has rejected files I've sent there several times, and it always turned out to be a stray tab character, no matter what the error message said. 'Manual line breaks' can also confuse these programs.
When possible, use the indent feature built into Word (or other word processor) by setting the indent indicator, or by going into /Format/Paragraph in Word.
No, actually using the tab key is not "just fine." It's wrong, and it makes the writer look like an amateur and it's a pain in the ass to have to convert them because there are legitimate uses for tabs.
Tab stands for "tabulate"; as in to create tables of data where you need the data in columns.
Use the ruler to indent paragraphs.
The "five points" indent is an old rule based on assumptions about typewriters.
Unless a publishers says otherwise, use a half-inch indent on the first line for indented paragraphs, using the ruler to set it.
Use a tab only when you are creating a table.
CHAPTER X should be centered, so all you have to do is highlight it and press the "Center' icon in your toolbar (or wherever it is if you don't use Word).
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Has anyone else noticed that if you use automatic indents, the chapter heading is not exactly centered, but displaced slightly to the right?
Nope. Mine are exactly centered--just printed out a page and measured it to verify.
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It's because the indentation also applies to that paragraph. What you want to do is to define a style (call it "centered text" or whatever) that has no indentation. Then apply it to all your to-be-centered texts.
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Styles. Create a style with the perfect formatting for a body paragraph. Create another style with the perfect formatting for a chapter heading -- including page break before, and space above and below.
Using styles is SO much faster and consistent than manual formatting, and if you need to change something for one weird submission, you can make updates in a SNAP.
Using styles is SO much faster and consistent than manual formatting, and if you need to change something for one weird submission, you can make updates in a SNAP.
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To elaborate on why the tab is bad - I've had four different editors tell me they read slush on their e-readers, and tab apparently does ugly things. (It's not just the file converter, in other words, though I'll definitely remember that going forward.)
So, for Word: Page Layout --> Paragraphs --> Indents and spacing --> Indentations --> Special/First Line, By/0.5"
And for those of us who've been using tab for the past million years and have to yank them from manuscripts before submitting, I *just* learned this trick at a terrific workshop:
Find and replace -->
In the "find" field, put in ^t
In the "replace" field, leave it blank
Hit "Replace all"
Voila, all the tabs are gone. Now control-A to highlight the whole document, and go through the submenus listed above to tell Word to indent the first line of every paragraph.
So, for Word: Page Layout --> Paragraphs --> Indents and spacing --> Indentations --> Special/First Line, By/0.5"
And for those of us who've been using tab for the past million years and have to yank them from manuscripts before submitting, I *just* learned this trick at a terrific workshop:
Find and replace -->
In the "find" field, put in ^t
In the "replace" field, leave it blank
Hit "Replace all"
Voila, all the tabs are gone. Now control-A to highlight the whole document, and go through the submenus listed above to tell Word to indent the first line of every paragraph.
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Do learn to use Styles; all word processors support them. They will save you hours of labor.
Be aware that in general, word processors divide Styles into those that apply to paragraphs, and those that apply to characters.
Be aware that in general, word processors divide Styles into those that apply to paragraphs, and those that apply to characters.
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Yes, yes, yes, yes.
No. If you do this, your centered paragraphs (chapter headings and such) will be off center because they'll be indented.
For Word, first do as Rainsmom said and define your styles...one for centered headings and one for paragraphs. Depending on your needs, you might need more, but this is the bare minimum.
BIG CAUTION: MAKE SURE THE 'PARAGRAPH AFTER' IS SET TO YOUR NEW PARAGRAPH STYLE, NOT TO 'NORMAL'.
(Yes, I know that was shouting. It's REALLY important.
)Select all (Ctrl+a) and apply your new paragraph style to the whole document.
Page through and change your chapter heads to your heading style.
Seriously. If you want Word to work for you, you really gotta master styles. If you don't, you'll constantly be fighting Word.
ETA: Jinx, Lisa. You owe me a Coke!
Most submission guidelines I've seen recently specifically say not to use tabs or spaces for first paragraph indents.
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Thanks all. It's much appreciated.
While I have you here, I have an additional question: Should I hit enter once or twice after I finish a paragraph? Thanks!
Once. Only enter an extra return to indicate a 'space break', that is, when the narrative skips in time or place, or when you have a change in point of view, and so on. Check the books on your bookshelves to learn how and when to do this.
Thanks all. It's much appreciated.
While I have you here, I have an additional question: Should I hit enter once or twice after I finish a paragraph? Thanks!
Once. Use the indent to mark the start of a new paragraph.
Better than an extra blank line for a scene break is some kind of symbol, centered. This has been covered many times here in various formatting threads, but needs repeating now and then. The standard symbol in manuscript is simply #, a typesetter's code for 'blank line'. In printed books, you'll see various things. But the key reason for a symbol is if the intended blank line happens to fall at the end or beginning of a page, it can easily be missed.
I thank you. My manuscript thanks you. I'm devoting the rest of the day (week? month?) to learning to implement styles in WordPerfect.
I was pretty smug because I'd learned to use the tab key rather than thumbing the space bar five times way back in typewriter days.
However, lots of us ancient folks use a laptop as if it's not much more than a Royal key-pounder.
So nice this old dog can still learn a new trick or two.
I was pretty smug because I'd learned to use the tab key rather than thumbing the space bar five times way back in typewriter days.
However, lots of us ancient folks use a laptop as if it's not much more than a Royal key-pounder.
So nice this old dog can still learn a new trick or two.
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