Abstract: A process for running width adjustment of adjacently positioned characters reduces the spacing of certain characters to enhance the visual impression of composed text. The process classifies the letter and symbols of the font into a plurality of groups according to their suitability for running width adjustment. The amount of running width adjustment to be provided for each pair of adjacent characters is established in accordance with their grouping. During composing, the running width of each character is determined. The characters are classified into the groups. The amount of adjustment to be provided is ascertained by reference to the group of the first character and the group of the second character of each adjacent pair and applied to the running width of one of the characters to reduce the spacing.