On Wed, Nov 10, 2021, Douglas McIlroy wrote: > > .SP (or the groff request .sp) adds the current linespace (\n[.v]) to > > the requested distance when | is used, for which compensation needs > > to be applied: > > Wording like this somewhat obscures the point. > > .sp |d, where d is some vertical distance, provides that much space > from the top of the page above any immediately following text. The > nominal height of such text is the line spacing, \n[.v].
I find this puzzling. Why is the nominal height of "such text" equal to the line spacing when the nominal height of text is the cap-height? The wording "...provides that much space from the top of the page above any immediately following text" would make a kind of sense if cap-height were used as the nominal height instead of line spacing: all the space would be above the top of the type, end of story. The way you've worded it, a conclusion that has to be drawn is that neither the top of type (the cap-height) nor the baseline it sits on are actually at the position specified by |d. I think explaining the behaviour as .sp |d adding a line space is preferable, if a whiff less accurate. -- Peter Schaffter https://www.schaffter.ca
