Definition of typesetting mistakes

common errors in the use of type on computers, arising because most computer users do not know the practices of the printing industry. The following pointers will help you avoid blunders:

• Notice the differences between typesetting and typing on a typewriter:
  - opening and closing quotation marks are different characters ("like this");
  - a dash (-) is not the same as two hyphens (- -);
  - underlining is rarely used-where you would underline on a typewriter, use italics (or possibly boldface in type.)
• Your type is proportionally spaced; letters are not all the same width.You can't count letter spaces theway you do on a typewriter; you must use other means of aligning. Always align columns with the Tab key, not the space bar.
• Type carefully. Be sure not to hit the space bar more than once between words. It's hard to tell the difference between one space and two spaces by just looking at the screen.
• Don't justify everything. Justified type looks good only when the columns are wide enough. Flush-left type with a ragged right margin is easier to read if the columns are narrow; with narrow columns, justification puts excessive space between words. See justification; river.
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• Don't use more than one or at most two fonts in a document (italics, boldface, and different sizes count as a single font). Multiplefont documents are almost always ugly. Odd typefaces (such as Old English) are very hard to read.
• Make sure your document is not missing any essential features such as adequate margins or page numbers. If in doubt, find a well-designed document or book and imitate it.
• Use appropriate features of your software. When you type a footnote, use the footnote instruction if there is one, rather than just moving the cursor to the foot of the page. That way, if you change the layout later, the software will probably still handle the footnote correctly.
• Standardize. Don't face each document as an original design problem. Develop a standard format that you like, and stick with it.