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word-spacing

The word-spacing CSS property sets the length of space between words and between tags.

Syntax

/* Keyword value */
word-spacing: normal;

/* <length> values */
word-spacing: 3px;
word-spacing: 0.3em;

/* <percentage> values */
word-spacing: 50%;
word-spacing: 200%;

/* Global values */
word-spacing: inherit;
word-spacing: initial;
word-spacing: unset;

Values

normal: The normal inter-word spacing, as defined by the current font and/or the browser.
<length>: Specifies extra spacing in addition to the intrinsic inter-word spacing defined by the font.
<percentage>: Specifies extra spacing as a percentage of the affected character’s advance width.

Examples

HTML

<div id="mozdiv1">Here are many words...</div>
<div id="mozdiv2">...and many more!</div>

CSS

#mozdiv1 {
  word-spacing: 15px;
}

#mozdiv2 {
  word-spacing: 5em;
}

Accessibility concerns

A large positive or negative word-spacing value will make the sentences the styling is applied to unreadable. For text styled with a very large positive value, the words will be so far apart that it will no longer appear to be a sentence. For text styled with a large negative value, the words will overlap each other to the point where the the beginning and end of each word is unrecognizable.

Legible word-spacing must be determined on a case-by-case basis, as different font families have different character widths. There is no one value that can ensure all font families automatically maintain their legibility.

Formal definition

Initial value	`normal`
Applies to	all elements. It also applies to `::first-letter` and `::first-line`.
Inherited	yes
Percentages	refer to the width of the affected glyph
Computed value	an optimum, minimum, and maximum value, each consisting of either an absolute length, a percentage, or the keyword `normal`
Animation type	a length

Formal syntax

normal | <length-percentage>where 
<length-percentage> = <length> | <percentage>

Specifications

Specification	Status	Comment
CSS Text Module Level 3 The definition of 'word-spacing' in that specification.	Working Draft	Replaces the previous values with a `<spacing-limit>` value that defines the same thing, plus the `<percentage>` value. Allows up to three values describing the optimum, minimum, and maximum value.
CSS Level 2 (Revision 1) The definition of 'word-spacing' in that specification.	Recommendation	No change.
CSS Level 1 The definition of 'word-spacing' in that specification.	Recommendation	Initial definition.

Browser compatibilityUpdate compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari
`word-spacing`	1	12	1	6	3.5	1
`<percentage>` values	No	No	45	No	No	6.1
SVG support	1	12	72	9	7	5.1

	Mobile
	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`word-spacing`	37	18	4	14	1	1.0
`<percentage>` values	No	No	45	No	6.1	No
SVG support	≤37	18	No	14	5.1	1.0