[CW] Word Spacing

[Bruce Prior]

Spacing between words apparently originated about 1400 to 1600 years ago. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_(punctuation)> In modern languages, including those with a Latin or Greek or Cyrillic written base, world spacing became standard. When rendering those languages in Morse code, it makes sense to differentiate between letter spacing and word spacing.

I generally use an Elecraft transceiver for sending and receiving Morse code. Even at their very best, Morse decoders for receiving are pretty rudimentary. That's because Morse code can operate at a wide variety of speeds, and it takes some time for a decoder to synchronize itself to the actual speed being sent. Transmit decoders are a different matter. The decoder should know for what speed the keyer is set. An excellent truth teller is a quality transmit Morse decoder. If an operator sends H for a 5 or B for a 6, the transmit decoder will make that plain. Similarly, if the operator does not leave enough space between words, the decoder will run the words together. An excellent way to discipline our sending is to leave a Morse decoder active when we're transmitting, giving us immediate feedback if we get our spacing wrong.

73,
Bruce Prior N7RR





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