Inconsistent list indentation depending on marker width

[Gravitonic]

Description

Because the layout of lists (list and enum) are adjusted by the spacing before and after markers, the width of the marker itself can affect the indentation of the list. Since different lists' markers can have different widths, this means that lists can have different indentation:

Screenshot

Typst code to reproduce

+ one
+ two
+ three

intervening paragraph

11. eleven
+ twelve
+ thirteen

In contrast, LaTeX, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word all seem to let users set the indentation based on the list item bodies.

LaTeX

Google Docs

Microsoft Word

Reproduction URL

https://typst.app/project/rqnPOljOs8eDzgh36DKpki

Operating system

Web app, macOS

Typst version

• I am using the latest version of Typst

[Enter-tainer]

In LaTeX, the list markers are right aligned, and there is a minimal gap between list marker and actual content.

[Enter-tainer]

When list marker is left aligned, the dot will not be aligned:

\usepackage{enumitem}
\newcommand\setItemnumber[1]{\setcounter{enumi}{\numexpr#1-1\relax}}

\begin{enumerate}[align=left]
    \item first
    \item second
    \setItemnumber{500000000000}
    \item very large
\end{enumerate}

[Enter-tainer]

Looks like word and latex has interesting behavior when aligning list markers and list content
Microsoft word:

LaTeX:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{enumitem}
\usepackage{lua-visual-debug}

\newcommand\setItemnumber[1]{\setcounter{enumi}{\numexpr#1-1\relax}}

\begin{document}

\maketitle

\section{Introduction}

\begin{enumerate}[align=left, nosep]
    \item first
    \item second
    \setItemnumber{9}
    \item 9
    \item 9
    \item 9
    \setItemnumber{99}
    \item lorem
    \item lorem
    \item lorem
    \setItemnumber{999}
    \item lorem
    \item lorem
    \item lorem
    \setItemnumber{9999}
    \item lorem
    \item lorem
    \setItemnumber{99999}
    \item lorem
    \item lorem
    
\end{enumerate}

[Enter-tainer]

Overall I feel like both word, typst and LaTeX's solution is good. Currently typst can align list content and list marker using grids, at the cost of baseline mismatch. It would be better if list marker in typst can be in the paragraph as list content, so they share the same baseline naturally.

For me i think normal people will never notice the alignment difference: they will never have a super long list that has more than 100 items.

[Enivex]

Overall I feel like both word, typst and LaTeX's solution is good. Currently typst can align list content and list marker using grids, at the cost of baseline mismatch. It would be better if list marker in typst can be in the paragraph as list content, so they share the same baseline naturally.

For me i think normal people will never notice the alignment difference: they will never have a super long list that has more than 100 items.

The list doesn't necessarily have to include more than 100 items. You can skip numbers. You may also use non-decimal numbers (roman numerals for instance)

Real life example: Doing a review where the numbers correspond to page or line numbers.

[Enter-tainer]

Overall I feel like both word, typst and LaTeX's solution is good. Currently typst can align list content and list marker using grids, at the cost of baseline mismatch. It would be better if list marker in typst can be in the paragraph as list content, so they share the same baseline naturally.
For me i think normal people will never notice the alignment difference: they will never have a super long list that has more than 100 items.

The list doesn't necessarily have to include more than 100 items. You can skip numbers. You may also use non-decimal numbers (roman numerals for instance)

Real life example: Doing a review where the numbers correspond to page or line numbers.

Yes, that is correct.

[Enter-tainer]

For this case, I think we can first measure the maximum width of all list markers. Then we can correctly set the width of the box. So we can beat LaTeX and word 😎

[Enivex]

For this case, I think we can first measure the maximum width of all list markers. Then we can correctly set the width of the box. So we can beat LaTeX and word 😎

I think that tex and word is choosing a middle ground on purpose. Imagine you had one label that's much longer than the other ones.

[Enter-tainer]

For this case, I think we can first measure the maximum width of all list markers. Then we can correctly set the width of the box. So we can beat LaTeX and word 😎

I think that tex and word is choosing a middle ground on purpose. Imagine you had one label that's much longer than the other ones.

It looks like the default in tex and word can fit in 3~4 numbers. I think this is a good default and this covers most use case. The width can also be customized.