Uniformity in spacing is, unquestionably, a most important part of a
compositor’s occupation; this requires both care and judgment, and,
therefore, cannot be too strongly impressed upon the mind of the
beginner. Close spacing is as unworkmanlike as wide spacing, and neither
ought to be permitted except in very narrow measures; and, frequently,
even then with care it might partly be prevented. What is commonly called
the thick space is the proper separator between words; though this rule
cannot always be adhered to in narrow measures when large type is used.
It is not sufficient merely to have a line here and there uniformly
spaced: a careful compositor will give every page that uniformity of
appearance which is a chief excellency. The beginner should remember
that it is better to do little, and do that little _well_, than to put
together a great number of letters without any regard to accuracy and
uniformity.
Where a line is evenly spaced, and yet requires justification, the
additional space should be put between those words in the line where it
will be least observable: viz. a d and an h, being tall, perpendicular
letters, will admit an increase of space between them, but not more than
a middle and thin space to a thick-spaced line; and an additional space
may be placed after a kerned letter, the beak of which may bear upon the
top of an ascending letter,—as the f followed by h, &c.
The same rule should be observed where it is necessary to reduce the
spacing of a line, less space being required after a sloping letter
than after a perpendicular one. The comma requires only a thick space,
but the other points should have a hair space before and an en quadrate
after them, except the full-point, which should have an em quadrate,
as terminating a sentence. Should it be necessary to reduce the
spacing generally, the spaces after the points must be altered in the
same proportion. Spaces are cast to such regular gradations that the
compositor can urge no reasonable excuse either for bad justification or
improper spacing.
In matter to be stereotyped, a hair space should be placed after the
letter f and other kerned letters when they stand at the end of the line.