Q. What is a nonbreaking space?
A. This space is actually a command that prevents two words (or any type grouping separated by a space) from being broken apart at the end of a line. You can use nonbreaking spaces (also called word joiners in QuarkXPress) to prevent proper nouns, titles, and headlines from splitting at the end of a line.
Nonbreaking Spaces in InDesign
InDesign has two kinds of nonbreaking spaces: flexible and fixed width.
The Nonbreaking Space is the same flexible width as you’d get by pressing the spacebar, but it prevents the text in question from being broken at the space character. Use this one for justified settings.
The Nonbreaking Space (Fixed Width) also prevents the text from being broken at the space character but doesn’t expand or compress in justified text.
To access either kind, highlight the word space between the words or characters in question. Choose Type > Insert White Space and select the Nonbreaking Space you desire.
QuarkXPress
Quark calls a nonbreaking space a Word Joiner. To access it, place the cursor before the character you don’t want to break. Choose Utilities > Insert Character > Special (nonbreaking) and select Word Joiner.
This article was last modified on August 18, 2021
This article was first published on July 8, 2009
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You can view my blog post in that very subject here: https://creativepro.com/blog/typetalk-say-what
Ilene
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T H E T Y P E S T U D I O
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I often hear these terms tossed around, and people act as if they are interchangeable, however they are not. Can you explain the difference between the two terms as applied to typography?