Re: Two-column format

[Marc Santacroce <santa -at- TFS -dot- COM>]

At 1:38 AM 6/10/95, Daniel Strychalski wrote:
>Two messages saying that columns don't save space are quoted below. The first
>is 15 lines without columns (not shown here) and 14 lines with; the second is
>32 lines without columns (again, not shown) and 30 lines with. Same margins,
>same font. These are the only ones I tried. Having worked with columns, I was
>quite sure what the results would be.
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>Actually, such a question is not only  | Are you thinking of adopting a two
>appropriate but, in the present        | column format just to save space? If
>politically-charged climate on the     | that's the case, I would suggest
>list, is a refreshing change of pace.  | reducing point size and inter-
>:)                                     | paragraph spacing, and experimenting
>                                       | with margin widths. But unless
>In my experience, a two column format  | absolutely necessary, don't try to
>doesn't take up much space more or     | cram as much text as possible onto
>less than a single column. It just     | your pages. You might save some
>breaks up the page and can make it     | copying costs, but you'll reduce the
>more difficult to read. For a          | effectiveness of your document.
>newspaper or magazine, such a format   | Remember, white space is your friend.
>is acceptable, but I wouldn't use it   | :)
>for a proposal.                        |
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>Kathleen Kuvinka asked if a two-column | more than about 5 inches.  So readers
>format saved space over a one-column   | will find themselves reading the same
>format.                                | line twice, or skipping a line.
>                                       |
>No, because you sacrifice the space    | As a reader, I find it equally
>between the columns. And if the        | disconcerting to have to jump a line
>columns are right-justified, you       | every few words (i.e., a very narrow
>sacrifice more space justifying two    | column).  As a writer, I do not like
>narrower columns than you would        | to see a thought I put effort into
>justifying one wider column.           | phrasing, being chopped up into a
>                                       | bunch of short lines... because I know
>But -- and this is a big but -- please | the reader will have more trouble with
>don't select a number of columns based | it. By the same token, when writing
>on saving space.  (To explain:  take   | phrases meant to capture attention,
>the space-saving directive to its      | convey a topic at a glance, etc., I
>logical extreme and you have a solid   | appreciate a short line, preferably
>page of text...that no one would       | with white space around it or perhaps
>read!)                                 | some other appropriate design element
>                                       | nearby.
>In the paper publishing world --       |
>books, from which so many of our       | (I don't know what sort of document
>well-tested and reliable rules of      | you're designing, but...)  To help you
>thumb derive -- the maximum column     | with the others you mentioned who also
>width is considered 28 picas, 30 if    | have a part in this decision, I would
>pressed.  A pica is about 1/6 inch, so | emphasize that number of columns is
>this is a bit less than 5 inches.  The | only one part of design.  Start with a
>reason is that the eye, when moving    | design that will convey this
>from the right-end of one line to the  | particular information best to these
>left-start of the next, will start     | particular users; let the number of
>missing its target after traveling     | columns be whatever they be.
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>         Quoted and reformatted by Dan Strychalski (dski -at- cameonet -dot- cameo -dot- com -dot- tw)
============
Thanks for taking the time to do this correctly. I answered the initial
query immediately, knowing full well from experience that columns save
space, and are easier to read. Yet, I was surprised at the number of
responses that came in saying the contrary.

IMHO those who insist on one column belong to the school of, "if it ain't
hard to find, it's not technical enough"; also known as the "if you make it
too easy to understand, anyone could do my job" group.(DoD and DoE fall in
this group).

Yes, my hair is on fire...I'l calm down, really I will.

=======================

M_a_r_c_ A. _S_a_n_t_a_c_r_o_c_e_________________________
Technical Writer/Trainer        TRW Financial Systems, Inc.
300 Lakeside Dr.                Oakland, CA 94612-3540
(510) 645-3469 (W)                  (510) 944-9814 (H)
santa -at- tfs -dot- com (W)                   santacroce -at- aol -dot- com (H)

"An idiot with a computer is a better, faster idiot!"