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/203



In circulars or advertisements consisting almost entirely of concise paragraphs, often of two and never exceeding three lines, the hanging indention should be preferred. When set in usual paragraph style the projecting syllable of the second line is first seen, while the more important first word of the paragraph is not so noticeable. Composition with projecting second lines that often end with a broad blank always has a ragged and incoherent appearance.

Dialogue matter in a book will not be improved by the use of hanging indention, for it will be at variance with the regular indention of other paragraphs, and will destroy the uniformity which is of greater importance. The distinction of a hanging indention should be given only to a paragraph which has some marked peculiarity in its subject-matter. The bad turnovers that may happen in short paragraphs of dialogue matter do not warrant the change to a hanging indention.

This is a pleasing mannerism of the early printers, who used it not only for the title-pages of books,