Typographical em and en spaces are useful formatting tools in Word 97 and 2000, but few users know how to access them. They are wider than normal spaces and are useful in lists, following a number, or anywhere a fixed-width space will help align text or numbers.

Select InsertòSymbol, and in the Symbol dialog box click the Special Characters tab. Choose Em Space or En Space and click Insert. Add the characters to your Insert menu by selecting ToolsòCustomize and clicking the Commands tab in the Customize dialog box. Then select Insert in the Categories list and scroll to the Insert Em Space or the Insert En Space entry in the Commands list. Click an entry and drag it to the Insert menu (see FIGURE 2). When the Insert menu drops down, drag the mouse pointer to where you want the command, then release the mouse button. Repeat these steps for the other Insert Space command, then click Close in the Customize dialog box.

By GEORGE CAMPBELL