Insert white space characters
A white space character is a blank space that appears between characters. You can use white-space characters for many different purposes, such as preventing two words from being broken at the end of a line.
- Using the Type tool, position the insertion point where you want to insert a certain amount of white space.
- Choose Type > Insert White Space, and then select one of the spacing options (such as Em Space) in the context menu.
Representative symbols of the white-space
characters appear when you choose Type > Show Hidden
Characters.
White space options
The following options appear on the Type > Insert White Space menu:
- Em Space
- Equal in width to the size of the type. In 12‑point type, an em space is 12 points wide.
- En Space
- One‑half the width of an em space.
- Nonbreaking Space
- The same flexible width as pressing the spacebar, but it prevents the line from being broken at the space character.
- Nonbreaking Space (Fixed Width)
- A fixed width space prevents the line from being broken at the space character, but does not expand or compress in justified text. The fixed width space is identical to the Nonbreaking Space character inserted in InDesign CS2.
- Third Space
- One‑third the width of an em space.
- Quarter Space
- One‑fourth the width of an em space.
- Sixth Space
- One‑sixth the width of an em space.
- Flush Space
- Adds a variable amount of space to the last line of a fully justified paragraph, useful for justifying text in the last line. (See Use a flush space with justified text.)
- Hair Space
- One‑twenty‑fourth the width of an em space.
- Thin Space
- One‑eighth the width of an em space. You may want to use a thin space on either side of an em dash or en dash.
- Figure Space
- Same width as a number in the typeface. Use a figure space to help align numbers in financial tables.
- Punctuation Space
- Same width as an exclamation mark, period, or colon in the typeface.