Using Monospace and Preformatted Text
Most of the text in this book is set in a proportional font. In a proportional font, characters take up various amounts of space horizontally depending on their sizes. For example, the letter M takes up more space than the letter I, so placing a string of Ms side-by-side occupies more space than a string of Is. Here are ten of each, to demonstrate:
MMMMMMMMMM
IIIIIIIIII
Most Web pages use proportional fonts because they are attractive and professional-looking. We’re accustomed to seeing proportional fonts, so they’re easy for most people to read.
In contrast, a monospace font is one in which each letter occupies the same amount of horizontal space, regardless of its actual size and shape. Back in the days of the ...
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