- (space-alist ,list? "A table that specifies distances between
-prefatory items, like clef and time-signature. The format is an alist
-of spacing tuples: @code{(@var{break-align-symbol} @var{type}
-. @var{distance})}, where @var{type} can be the symbols
-@code{minimum-space} or @code{extra-space}.")
+ (space-alist ,list? "An alist that specifies distances from this
+grob to other breakable items, using the format:
+
+@example
+'((@var{break-align-symbol} . (@var{spacing-style} . @var{space}))
+ (@var{break-align-symbol} . (@var{spacing-style} . @var{space}))
+ ...)
+@end example
+
+Standard choices for @w{@code{@var{break-align-symbol}}} are listed in
+@rinternals{break-alignment-interface}. Additionally, three special
+@w{break-align} symbols available to @w{@code{space-alist}} are:
+
+@quotation
+@table @code
+@item first-note
+used when the grob is just left of the first note on a line
+
+@item next-note
+used when the grob is just left of any other note;
+if not set, the value of @code{first-note} gets used
+
+@item right-edge
+used when the grob is the last item on the line (only compatible with
+the @w{@code{extra-space}} spacing style)
+@end table
+@end quotation
+
+Choices for @code{@var{spacing-style}} are:
+
+@quotation
+@table @code
+@item extra-space
+Put this much space between the two grobs. The space is stretchable
+when paired with @w{@code{first-note}} or @w{@code{next-note}};
+otherwise it is fixed.
+
+@item minimum-space
+Put at least this much space between the left sides of both grobs,
+without allowing them to collide. The space is stretchable when paired
+with @w{@code{first-note}} or @w{@code{next-note}}; otherwise it
+is fixed. Not compatible with @w{@code{right-edge}}.
+
+@item fixed-space
+Only compatible with @w{@code{first-note}} and
+@w{@code{next-note}}. Put this much fixed space between the grob
+and the note.
+
+@item minimum-fixed-space
+Only compatible with @w{@code{first-note}} and
+@w{@code{next-note}}. Put at least this much fixed space between
+the left side of the grob and the left side of the note, without
+allowing them to collide.
+
+@item semi-fixed-space
+Only compatible with @w{@code{first-note}} and
+@w{@code{next-note}}. Put this much space between the grob and
+the note, such that half of the space is fixed and half is
+stretchable.
+@end table
+@end quotation
+
+Rules for this spacing are much more complicated than this.
+See [Wanske] page 126--134, [Ross] page 143--147.")