This thread is a clear case of why non-standards developers laugh at us (Web Standards Zealots) and justifiably say we're irrelevant.
We're arguing over a line break! Forget the context (but a postal or street address is a fine example of the need for a line break in the way most (en) people write out addresses. It's part of the way we put text on a page, either with a pen, a thumbnail dipped in tar or hitting (carriage-)return (a hangover from typewriters, aka the Enter key) on a keyboard. It's even still known as CR (carriage-return) or LF (line-feed) or both (CRLF) within computer-based text terminology. I know this metaphor has flaws. On a typewriter (excepting the later "word processing" ones that were aware of the page size) you HAD to use a carriage return or you'd go off the page. Same with a pen, you stop at the edge of the paper and start a new line. But if I handwrite my address, I use line breaks regardless of the width of the page. No, it's not print (from a press or a pen) but we still need to follow the same basics for the written word. I'm not talking about fontography, colour, width of canvas (parchment/paper/screen) or positioning, these should be separated from the content. They are akin to calligraphy in handwriting and changing the ribbon colour (or ink) or the font on the piece of lead or the "golf ball" on a typewriter. I'm talking about the basics of the written word and they ARE semantic. As for what a screen reader does, we're now talking about the spoken word but I have never heard a screen reader say something like "New line" or "Line-feed" when it encounters a <br>so it still works (if I'm wrong about this please correct me). A single <br> to force a line break is ok in this context. <br><br> isn't (and never is). If you need two, mark it up correctly within an appropriate block-level element (container). P ****************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ See http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm for some hints on posting to the list & getting help ******************************************************
