Don't Use HTML Paragraph Spacing

Question

My office just upgraded to Office 2016. While things have good well for the most part, I've found one annoyance. Significant to me and I would think to anyone with a passing interest with typography.

Earlier versions of Word defaulted to using HTML paragraph spacing. (This has always seemed a bizarre default to me.) Users were, however, given the option of checking the "Don't use HTML paragraph spacing" buried deep in the advanced options. This allows users to make both paragraph and line spacing regular and with a consistent rhythm. For example, if you want a regular 6 point "rhythm", you could set your line spacing to "exactly" 18 points with 18 points after with headings having 12 points before and 6 points after, all multiples of 6. (Sorry for being pedantic.)

The "Don't use HTML paragraph spacing", however, seems to have disappeared in Word 2016. This is extremely annoying and is screwing up my documents. (And please don't tell me "if you're interested in typography, why are you using Word?" I have no choice in the matter.)

Where did it go? Or is it good for good?

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

Thanks, Diane. I'll work with our IT consultants on it.

Answer 2

I can confirm that it's not available in (perpetual license) Word 2013 unless the document is in Word 2010 Compatibility Mode (which can be achieved with a macro).

Answer 3

It appears that Microsoft is bringing back more and more of those (older) compatibility options that were removed previously.

Answer 4

That's good news (at least for those who have Office 365. I think there are probably a lot of options that Microsoft didn't realize users were relying on.

Answer 5

I try to make my documents as easy to read as possible and some of the Microsoft Word defaults and settings just seem to go in the opposite direction. It seems like they t have people who understand typography designing a word processing programs which seems wrong.

Take "single" spacing. If you measure a "single" spaced paragraph you'll see it's more like 1.2 lines, say, 13.2 points for 11 point type. On 12 pt. Segoe UI, single spacing is really 15.95 pt. spacing. This goes against centuries of best practices. Stuff like this and the mandatory loss of control over spacing more generally is a real annoyance.

I will step off my soapbox now.