Option not to split words longer than a line

[veikman]

As the documentation states, “NoHyphenation implements WordSplitter by not splitting the word at all.” However, textwrap::wrap effectively overrides the stated behaviour when the width of a word exceeds the configured maximum width of a line.

For contrast, Python provides a break_long_words option to allow individual words to exceed a given line width without being split. This allows long URLs, for example, to be preserved, which is useful.

As a Rust newbie, I would like to know what it would take to get that freedom in textwrap.

[veikman]

I now see there is a break_words option. Jolly good!

[mgeisler]

Hi @veikman, glad you found the break_words option! I've actually been wondering if I should rename it to break_long_words to make its function a bit clearer and also to keep the connection with Python's API.

[veikman]

Clarifying the documentation would be helpful; I don’t think you need to rename the option.

I now understand that although NoHyphenation is a WordSplitter, it does not split words (a paradox!), and although it does not split words, words are still split if it is chosen (by “breaking” in a separate stage, if break_words is true, independently of NoHyphenation; a separate paradox). The combination of these two paradoxes confused me.

I suggest making an explicit distinction, in the documentation of NoHyphenation and WordSplitter, between “splitting” (marking advantageous points within a word to decompose it, without breaking the language) and “breaking” (disregarding said points for higher-level reasons; breaking the language), and referring to break_words.