4 ms·
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the origin of the 80-character width in computers is actually from the width of the first punch cards. AFAIK it was just an
by dfranke 18y ago
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the origin of the 80-character width in computers is actually from the width of the first punch cards. AFAIK it was just an arbitrary decision not related to typesetting. The optimal width generally quoted by typesetters is 66.
- pg 18y agoYes, that's true. I was referring to the custom of cutting lines at about that length, not where the specific number 80 came from. Though in fact the 80 char convention probably wouldn't have made it past about 1950 it hadn't been a reasonable upper bound for lines of prose.