Page:The practice of typography; correct composition; a treatise on spelling, abbreviations, the compounding and division of words, the proper use of figures and nummerals by De Vinne, Theodore Low, 1828-1914.djvu/198

 heading. The quadrats are enough to enable the compositor to make the forms of indention known as regular paragraph, hanging, motto, lozenge or diamond, half-diamond, squared, and diagonal.

The one-em indention for the regular paragraph is most frequent, but indention changes with varied forms of composition. For solid matter, one em at the beginning of a paragraph is enough to give the intended distinction of a change of subject. When the matter is wide leaded or white-lined, and the white space between lines is thereby made larger, two- or three-em quadrats are often used. These wide indentions are striking, but they have disadvantages. If the preceding paragraph ends with a single syllable, it is practically separated from its following paragraph by a full white line of irregular shape, which makes an awkward gap.

To prevent this disfigurement the closing lines of the first paragraph are often overrun and more widely spaced, so that the last word shall pass beyond the indention of the second paragraph. This hides the blemish of an irregular white line, but it makes objectionably uneven spacing.