Rule: Use a mono spaced font in all writing programs.
I have set the default font to Courier Screenplay, 12-14 pt. in Word, Excel, WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, Scrivener, Fade-In,…
Courier is one of the easiest to read. And a monospaced font is more likely to reveal errors in spelling and punctuation.
Set the programs to NOT align text, or right margins. Aligned text decreases reading speed, and distracts the brain from comprehension.
Line spacing should be 1.5 during typing, and 2.0 during editing.
Edit and proofread printed pages.
Reference: William Shunn : Proper Manuscript Format
And lots of other info and resources, including formatting templates for Word, WP, Open Office.
[shunn.net]
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As a publisher/editor since 1987, one of the first things I did was to get rid of all mono-spaced fonts!
Line spacing on text for editing was 160% of font size, and for printing was 120% of font size. I avoided fonts with "strange" letter shapes, which meant I mainly used Times, Bookman or Helvetica. So I fear I disagree with William Shunn's idea of "Proper Manuscript Format"
Petter
Level 9
June 23, 2018
0
I came to Shunn via various magazine submission forms. They all referenced his advice.And he does include Times as an option. He and others prefer Courier. Courier Screenplay is one of the latest. Clean and consistent.
And I agree that a mono-spaced font improves readability.
Whatever, my main point is to be consistent in one's work, and change as needed in the end.
I have found, and others have confirmed, that proofing one's work is best done with printed pages.
@Jacar Proofing is best done by altering the format, whether it is by printing or saving as a pdf file - and then giving it to someone else. The author is biased as to what it should be and so often fails to spot the mistakes. I used to print out my own output (usually in the region of four to five thousand words per month), and then give it to my wife to correct.
Big ups to monospaced fonts. Courier New or something similar is also essential for writing tablature for stringed instruments, or ASCII art.
Wurlitzer
Level 8
June 22, 2018
2
Courier Screenplay is one the the "newest" iterations. Works everywhere.
For musical scores, then monospacing is essential, However, to me ASCII "art" is "pointless".
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