When a colon is used to separate clauses in a sentence (rather than preceding a list), current typographic practice, and my preference, is to follow it with the same space as after a semicolon.
The LaTeX default \nonfrenchspacing
violates that, making the space after a colon the same as after a period.
But \frenchspacing
,while shrinking the space after a colon, unfortunately also shrinks the space after a period, which I do not want to do.
See this example:
\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\begin{document}
\nonfrenchspacing
\emph{nonfrenchspacing}
\smallskip
Spacing after; semicolon.
Spacing after: colon.
Spacing after. period
\bigskip
\frenchspacing
\emph{frenchspacing}
\smallskip
Spacing after; semicolon.
Spacing after: colon.
Spacing after. period
\end{document}
How can I get all the following:
- space after a colon separating clauses the same as that after a semicolon; and
- space after a colon before a list retains the larger spacing from
\nonfrenchspacing
; and - space after a period retains the larger spacing from
\nonfrenchspacing
?
Spacing after:\@ colon.
with the use of\@
.\frenchspacing
doesn't respect the traditional French spacing before a colon or a semicolon (thin unbreakable space)…\
" (slash-space) is preferable. See What is the proper use of \@ (i.e., backslash-at)?