Spacing and Layout
Status: Partially established. Web spacing patterns are visible in existing CSS. Print spacing has known values from manuscript audits but is subject to the typography discussion.
Web Layout
Content Width
| Context | Max Width | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main content area | 1100px | Both oranburg.law stylesheets use --max-width: 1100px |
| Contact forms | 800px | Narrower for readability of form fields |
| Content prose (Quaere) | 400px | Very narrow — under review |
Spacing Scale (Web)
No formal spacing scale has been declared. Current CSS uses ad hoc values. The following are the most common recurring values:
| Token | Value | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| xs | 0.25rem | Gap between nav items, minor padding |
| sm | 0.5rem | Card internal spacing, heading margins |
| md | 1rem | Standard padding, card gaps |
| lg | 1.5rem | Section padding, hero padding, grid gaps |
| xl | 2rem | Section margins, major vertical rhythm |
| 2xl | 3rem | Section separators, footer top margin |
| 3xl | 4rem | Section top margins on home page, header padding |
Border Radius
| Context | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cards, panels | 8px or 16px | 16px on dark landing; 8px on Jekyll pages |
| Buttons (CTA) | 6px | Rectangular with slight rounding |
| Pill buttons (nav) | 999px | Full pill shape on dark landing page nav |
| Tags / badges | 3px | Barely rounded |
Open question: The border-radius values are inconsistent between the dark landing page (16px, very rounded) and the Jekyll content pages (8px, moderate). Should these converge?
Print Layout
Margins
No explicit margin standard has been set. Typical law review and university press conventions:
- Standard: 1” all sides (Word default, most journal requirements)
- Some presses specify 1.25” left for binding gutter
Line Spacing
| Document | Current Practice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Law review drafts | 1.1 (Seth’s preference) | Tight for law; intentional |
| TSPT manuscript | 1.15 | Slightly looser; closest to Seth’s current practice |
| Judgment Proof | 1.1 | Matches Seth’s stated preference |
| QELS manuscript | (drifted) | Used default spacing; not Seth’s choice |
| Journal submission | Double-spaced | Required by most law reviews regardless of author preference |
Open question: Should the style guide specify 1.1 as the default for all non-submission documents, with double-spacing noted as a submission-only override? Or vary by document type?
Paragraph Spacing
| Style | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| First-line indent | 0.5” indent, no space between paragraphs | Traditional for scholarship and books |
| Block paragraphs | No indent, space between paragraphs | Modern; used in correspondence and web |
Open question: Which paragraph style for which document types?