Definition
The word space is the blank interval between words in typeset text. Though invisible, it is one of the most critical elements in typography — its width directly affects readability, texture, and the color of the page. In well-set text, word spaces should be just wide enough to separate words clearly without creating rivers of white space or breaking the line into isolated clusters. Bringhurst recommends a word space roughly equal to the thickness of the letter i in the typeface being used. In justified text, word spaces are variable (stretched or compressed to fill the line), while in ragged-right setting they remain constant.
Source
— Robert Bringhurst — p. 347:
The space between words, which varies with the font and is adjusted during justification.
Made with Bullet