If you’re a regular InDesign user, you probably know that InDesign can apply formatting to text inside a paragraph automatically with Nested Styles. One of the best examples of this is styling run-in headings. For example, this nested style applies a bold character style to the first two words in a paragraph:
This is awesome, but what if I need to apply it to three words? Like, in the following image, I’d like to extend it to the “III” (the third word):
One option is to edit the definition of the nested style for this one paragraph, and you can certainly do that. (Place your text cursor in the paragraph and then choose Drop Caps and Nested Styles from the Control panel menu.)
But here’s a simple trick that is perhaps even easier: Replace the space between the words with a non-breaking space. You can find this by choosing Type > Insert White Space > Nonbreaking Space — or you can choose Nonbreaking Space (Fixed Width).
I’m actually not sure why the nonbreaking space extends the nested style, but it works! In the image below, you can see (if you squint) the little ^ character that indicates a nonbreaking space when Show Hidden Characters is enabled:
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Leave a Reply
Recommended for you
Illustrator Downloadable: Summer Citrus Pattern Set
Downloadables are an exclusive benefit for CreativePro members! (Not a member ye...
InDesign Downloadable: Tables SuperGuide
Downloadables are an exclusive benefit for CreativePro members! (Not a member ye...
How to Be a Better Designer: Learn About Type
It’s all about the type. Or, as James Carville might have said, it’s the typogra...
What a great (and easy) tip – I will definitely use this!
Thanks for this tip, David!
The two types of Nonbreaking space and Hair space extend the nested style, because they joining the two words and make it as a one word, it’s like the Non Joiner character in this behavior
Thank you, David! This is interesting feature.