View source for Template:Spaced ndash/doc

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{{Template shortcuts |snd|spnd|sndash|spndash}}

This is the '''spaced ndash''' template; it looks like this " &ndash; ". 

It works similarly to the HTML markup sequence <code>'''&amp;nbsp;&amp;ndash;'''&nbsp;</code> i.e. a [[non-breaking space]] (which will not line-break and will not collapse together with normal spaces that come before the template), a short dash (known as an [[Dash#En dash|en dash]]), and a normal space (which ''will'' line-break and ''will'' collapse together with normal spaces that come after the template).

Among other uses, this template may be used in lists to provide something stronger than a [[Template:·|bold middot]] "'''&middot;'''" or a [[Template:•|bullet]] "&bull;", but shorter than an [[Dash#Em dash|em dash]] "&mdash;". For horizontal lists, use {{tl|flatlist}} or <code>class="hlist"</code> instead (see [[WP:HLIST]]) Here, the recommended usage is to use ''no'' space before the template and one space after the template, like this:
::<nowiki>[[Salt]]{{spaced ndash}} [[Pepper]]</nowiki>
:This will render one space on each side of the dash, like this:
::[[Salt]] &ndash; [[Black pepper|Pepper]]
:A line break will come ''after'' one of the dashes, not before, when the spacing is used as suggested, like this:
::[[Salt]] &ndash; [[Black pepper|Pepper]] &ndash;
::[[Curry]] &ndash; [[Saffron]]

{| class="wikitable" style="border: none; background: none;"
|Colspan=2 |<center>Here's an example of use for lists</center>
|-
|| One use of template "Spaced ndash" is within other templates, tables, lists, and similar things to provide a separator between items. It is also to be consistent so that the article editor can use their choice of '''<nowiki>{{</nowiki>bull}}''', '''<nowiki>{{</nowiki>dot}}''', '''<nowiki>{{</nowiki>middot}}''', or  '''<nowiki>{{</nowiki>spaced ndash}}''' and not have to insert the {{bull}}, {{dot}}, {{middot}}, or {{spaced ndash}} symbol, they can use any of these as a simple macro. The idea being that if you have a table with a list of items, you can insert a spaced short dash (or the other symbols) between items that will appear correct, in that the items always have just one separator between them, and when a list crawls to the next line, the dash hangs onto the prior item instead of rolling over to the next line. Notice on the end of this box, the symbol hangs on the end of the last item that will fit on the line indicating that additional items follow on the next line as part of this list, but the item only stays on the line if the item and the dash will fit.  See the column on the right.  In code it is ''' Item1<nowiki>{{</nowiki>spaced ndash}} Item2<nowiki>{{</nowiki>spaced ndash}} Item3<nowiki>{{</nowiki>spaced ndash}} Item4<nowiki>{{</nowiki>spaced ndash}} Item5<nowiki>{{</nowiki>spaced ndash}}''' etc. (with some smaller items squeezed in to show that the list does not have to be the same number of items per line) but in the box they all fold perfectly once it runs out of space on the line to fit the next item and the dash following.
| <p>Normally, in a real box these items would be links, but this is an example.</p> Item1{{spaced ndash}} A{{spaced ndash}} B{{spaced ndash}} Item2{{spaced ndash}} Item3{{spaced ndash}} Item4{{spaced ndash}} Item5{{spaced ndash}} extra item{{spaced ndash}} E{{spaced ndash}} 1{{spaced ndash}} 2{{spaced ndash}} 3{{spaced ndash}} 4{{spaced ndash}} 5{{spaced ndash}} 6{{spaced ndash}} 7{{spaced ndash}} {{nowrap|item that won't attach to prior line unless it fits in the remaining space{{spaced ndash}}}} Q{{spaced ndash}} A slightly longer item{{spaced ndash}} KK{{spaced ndash}} An obviously really even longer item that the dash will hang at its end{{spaced ndash}} Item6{{spaced ndash}} C{{spaced ndash}} Item7{{spaced ndash}} Item8{{spaced ndash}} Item9{{spaced ndash}} Item10{{spaced ndash}} Item11{{spaced ndash}} Item12{{spaced ndash}} D{{spaced ndash}} Item13{{spaced ndash}} Item14{{spaced ndash}} Item15{{spaced ndash}} Item16{{spaced ndash}} Item17{{spaced ndash}} Item18 <p>The space on the end makes sure the dash doesn't touch the edge of the box, either</p>
|}

== Dot sizes ==
{{Dot size}}

== See also ==
* {{tn|·}}, which produces a spaced bold [[interpunct]] ("middot"): "{{·}}"
* {{tn|•}}, which produces a spaced bullet-point: "{{•}}"
* {{tn|\}}, which produces a spaced (forward-)slash: "{{\}}"
* {{tl|ndash}}, which produces an (unspaced) [[en dash]].
* {{tl|mdash}}, which produces an (unspaced) [[em dash]].

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[[Category:Wikipedia character-substitution templates]]
[[Category:Inline spacing templates]]
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