Here's a breakdown:
Spacing between words:
* Consistent spacing: The most important rule is to maintain consistent spacing between words. This makes the text easier to read and prevents it from appearing cramped or uneven.
* Standard word spacing: In most fonts, the standard word spacing is equal to the width of a single "M" in the font.
* Adjusting word spacing: Sometimes, designers will adjust word spacing to improve the visual balance of a line or paragraph. This is often done in headlines or titles, where the spacing might be increased slightly to create a more open feel.
* Tracking: This refers to the overall spacing of letters in a block of text, and can be adjusted to affect the perceived density of the text.
Spacing within words:
* Kerning: Kerning is the process of adjusting the space between specific letter pairs to improve their visual appearance. For example, the letters "A" and "V" might need to be kerned closer together than "A" and "W". This is a subtle but important aspect of typography.
* Ligatures: Ligatures are special characters that combine two or more letters into a single glyph. For example, the letters "fi" and "fl" are often combined in a ligature to improve their visual appearance.
* Font Design: The spacing within words is determined by the design of the font. Different fonts have different spacing characteristics, so it's important to choose a font that is appropriate for the intended use.
Tips for spacing:
* Readability: The primary goal of spacing is to ensure that the text is easy to read.
* Visual balance: Spacing can be used to create a sense of visual balance in a design.
* Font choice: The choice of font will affect the spacing between letters and words.
* Professional design software: If you are designing text for print or digital media, you can use professional design software to adjust the spacing between letters and words.
If you're interested in learning more about typography and spacing, I recommend exploring online resources and books on the subject.