4

I'm having trouble using description. I would like the separation between my label and my description to be the same distance for each item, and have each additional line also be properly indented to the same distance, like so:

desired

So far all I seem to be able to get is:

enter image description here

Using the following code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem}

\begin{document}
\begin{description} [leftmargin=*,labelindent=16pt]
\item [To:] blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
\end{description}
\end{document}

The same code produces itemized lists when description is changed to enumeration, which is not exactly the desired effect. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Werner
  • 603,163
Will
  • 41

2 Answers2

3

Something like this?

enter image description here

Code:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem}

\begin{document}

\begin{description}[labelwidth=50pt,leftmargin=!]
\item [\textbf{To:}] blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
\item [\textbf{From:}] blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
\end{description}

\end{document}
karlkoeller
  • 124,410
2

This is another possibility:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem}

\begin{document}
\begin{description} [labelindent=16pt,style=multiline,leftmargin=1in]
\item [To:] blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
\item [From:] Defense Advisor
\end{description}
\end{document}

enter image description here

Adjust leftmargin as you wish to change the separation.

  • What must be the relationship between leftmargin, labelindent and labelwidth to make this work? Especially, how did you arrive at those “magic” 1in and 16pt? – caw Aug 01 '19 at 00:52