em quad
- noun
- Archaic
:
cuadrado em
- The printer inserted an em quad between the paragraphs to create extra space.
Examples
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Because an em quad is a perfect square, it is easy to measure and use in layouts.
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In traditional typesetting, an em quad provides a visual pause or indentation.
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An em quad is essential for proper typesetting.
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I need an em quad to adjust the spacing.
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In traditional typesetting, an em quad is used to create spaces between words and lines.
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The typesetter placed an em quad at the beginning of the paragraph to signal a new section.
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To achieve a clean look, he added an em quad after each heading in the document.
Synonyms
5
9.6
A small metal block used to make space between words or lines in printing
1
9.9
A unit of space in printing equal to the width of the letter M at a given font size
A square metal block used to make space in letterpress printing
A small metal or wooden block used to make a blank space in printed text
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is compositional: 'em' names a typographic unit (the width) and 'quad' names a metal spacing block, so an 'em quad' is literally a quad whose width equals an em. This literal, technical combination follows standard noun compounding and would be understandable to a learner who already knows both constituents.
Etymology
The noun em quad comes from old printing, where printers used small square metal blocks for spacing. The block's width was the same as the type size called an em, and quad meant a square piece, so printers used an em quad to make a regular 'space' in text.