Having used a typewriter I can confirm what raphlinus wrote above. Moreover you would not have to use tabs necessarily. A typewriter is an analogue device with

Having used a typewriter I can confirm what raphlinus wrote above. Moreover you would not have to use tabs necessarily. A typewriter is an analogue device with a roller on a sled. It's not that there are fixed character cells like in a computer. When you press a button the roller usually moves a fixed distance but you can suppress that and position the roller freely. You also can position your characters freely in the vertical direction by turning the roller with a knob on its side. Basically characters could be placed on the sheet without restrictions. To get an idea what was possible look up Typewriter Art.