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Subject:Re: Readability of extended list items? From:Rebecca Phillips <Rebecca -at- QRONUS -dot- CO -dot- IL> Date:Mon, 2 Dec 1996 08:16:36 +0200
Beth:
I have seen numbered and bulleted lists sticking into the margin.
However, I would have to agree that this is confusing, if not completely
incorrect structure. The word "outdented" doesn't even exist (Yes, I
know you are supposed to call this a hanging indent, but that doesn't
describe the fact that the numbers are outside the text margins.) You
have a "margin" area and a "text" area. Why would you put parts of the
text in the margin area?
The beginning of numbered lists should be at the same horizontal rule as
the text. I have also seen lists indented. This is also fine,
particularly bulleted lists with items less than one line across.
Also note that when you align the text, you should use an incremental
grid. That is, don't have your indent at 0.85 inches, the first indent
at 1.11 inches, etc. Decide on a grid ruling, like 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5
inches, and have all tabs, table columns and indents along those
gridlines and in no other place. For example, the Heading 1 would be at
0.0", the text and 0.8", and the indented text of the list would be at
1.2". This makes it easier for a reader to understand the relationship
between paragraphs and indents, since spacing between levels will be
consistent. The "outdented" hanging numbering scheme you noted would
most likely make an incremental gridline difficult to implement. It
would also be completely impossible to comprehend if you use numbered
paragraph headings.
Rebecca
Rebecca M. Phillips
Documentation Manager
Qronus Interactive Ltd.
Automated System Testing http://www.qronus-int.com
rebecca -at- qronus -dot- co -dot- il
+++++++++++++++++
Original Post Example:
++++++++++++++++++
For example, consider the following:
Level One Head
This is a paragraph. Note the indent from the level one head.
Level Two Head
This is also a paragraph. Level three heads have the same indent
as
paragraphs and level two heads, but their typography is
different in
terms of weight and size.
However, extended list items have an initial margin in between
the
paragraph/level two head/level three heads and the level one
heads.
o This is a bullet item.
o This is a second bullet item whose text will wrap to the left
margin
of paragraphs and the level two and three heads.
This is a paragraph. Note that extended lists also includes
numbered
lists as well as bullet lists.
1. The first step is to...
2. The second step is ... As with bullet lists, the text will wrap
to
the left margin of paragraphs.
Rebecca M. Phillips
Documentation Manager
Qronus Interactive Ltd.
Automated System Testing http://www.qronus-int.com
rebecca -at- qronus -dot- co -dot- il
