indention
Low/TechnicalFormal, Technical, Professional
Definition
Meaning
The action of indenting a line of text from the margin; a space left by indenting.
A notch, recess, or deep recess; the condition of being indented or having notches.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in writing, publishing, and programming contexts. Can refer to the resulting empty space or the act of creating it. Often conflated with 'indentation'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'indentation' is overwhelmingly more common for most contexts. In British English, 'indention' sees slightly more usage in technical publishing and printing, but it's still less common.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'indention' sounds more technical and dated than 'indentation'. It might be used deliberately for stylistic effect or within specific professional jargon.
Frequency
'Indention' is extremely rare in everyday speech in both regions. 'Indentation' is the standard, high-frequency term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the indention of [noun phrase]an indention of [measurement]set/adjust/change the indentionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in document formatting guidelines (e.g., 'Ensure the indention for bullet points is consistent').
Academic
Used in style guides and discussions of manuscript formatting (e.g., 'The APA style requires a hanging indention for references').
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'indent' or 'indentation' would be used instead.
Technical
Used in printing, typography, and coding contexts (e.g., 'The Python interpreter reads the code's indention to define blocks').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please indent the first line of each paragraph.
- The code failed because the programmer didn't properly indent the loop.
American English
- Make sure to indent the second paragraph by half an inch.
- The software will automatically indent quoted text.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You can create an indention at the start of a paragraph.
- The editor requested a consistent paragraph indention throughout the manuscript.
- In Python, the indention of code lines is syntactically significant.
- The typographer meticulously adjusted the hanging indention of the bibliography entries to align with the house style.
- Linguistic analysis of the manuscript revealed variations in indention patterns that corresponded to different scribes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: INDENT IONs on a page are like tiny spaces (ions) you 'indent' into the margin.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEXT LAYOUT IS PHYSICAL DEPTH (creating a 'dent' in the margin).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'индентация' (indenture or indentation), which is broader. The direct Russian term for this specific formatting feature is 'абзацный отступ' or simply 'отступ'. Using the transliterated 'индентация' might be understood in technical contexts only.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'indention' for the physical dents in a surface (prefer 'indentations' or 'dents').
- Confusing the act of indenting ('indenting') with the result ('indention' or 'indentation').
- Spelling it as 'indentition'.
- Assuming it is the most common or only form of the word.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'indention' most likely to be found?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are largely synonymous, but 'indentation' is the vastly more common and general term. 'Indention' is a specialized, less frequent variant used mainly in publishing, typography, and sometimes programming. 'Indentation' can also refer to physical notches or cuts, a meaning less associated with 'indention'.
You should use 'indentation'. It is the standard term understood by everyone. Using 'indention' might be seen as an attempt at overly technical or archaic language and could distract the reader.
Yes, 'indention' is a correct, though uncommon, spelling. Major dictionaries list it, but they often note it as a variant of 'indentation'.
No. The verb form is 'to indent'. 'Indention' is exclusively a noun referring to the space/result or the act/process of creating that space.