Why do people use the enter/return key so much? (Next Line)

It makes things easier to read, but like you said, some people use a too small line size.

Tyrus

i notice a lot of people using techniques for email, in their posts.. the narrow column of content, and using words like f.r.e-e (come on! there are no spam folders to avoid in a forum!).

maybe a lot of it is from doing a copy/paste of text they plan on emailing to their list as well?

Because i dont have to scan the page to read it, I can take in the whole line without scrolling left and right, same reason sales pages are only 650 pixels wide, and why splash pages should all be above the fold.

We can take in the whole message in one glance

Robert

Not to pick on the OP or anything, but here's one example: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...u-can-too.html

Easier to read. Doesn't make the eye travel so
far to catch the beginning of the next line.

I shoot for about 60 letters per line - but generally
eyeball it with forum posts so the ragged edge
can be erratic.

Columns also emulate the newspaper and magazine
format. When used in email it is often because
some older email clients display as few as 60
characters and by putting a hard return we
accomodate to that lowest denominator.

I realize a lot of people don't experience any difference
in perceived ease of reading a short line, but for
me it is easier and less fatiguing to speed-read short
lines. I have one marketing book with an average of
22 words to a line and the book is hard to read
quickly because scanning requires so much eye
movement. That's an extreme example - but it
shows you WHY magazines are laid-out in columns.

Also, columnar layout in copy can contribute to
a newsy vibe - which generally increases readership
and that is why columns are used in advertisements
running in print .

This post should
really be in the
off topic...



.

I don't find it easier to read - I find it more difficult as it reads in a very choppy manner and makes my eyes jerk around a lot. It's enough to give you vertigo if you are a fast reader who doesn't skim.
We don't see sales pages that are 200 pixels wide, nor do we find books or anything else formatted so narrow. Emails were formatted that way to accomodate different email clients..

Okay - I have a REAL answer even if this is was relegated to the OT forum so I expect a cookie or a bottle of Asti or something for answering this IM related trash in the NOT IM related trash forum.

The reason the lines are shortened is so that if someone opens an email in a less than full size screen they won't have to scroll side to side to read the print which is usually sales copy and sales people don't want people clicking off the copy because it is too wide for their screen and it is a hassle to scroll to read it. Forum screens can work the same way sometimes - and shortening the length of the line avoids scroll on them, too.
Actually the best line length for all screens is supposed to be around 62 characters.

Where's my treat?