different places in the score. We do this with the command
@code{\newSpacingSection}. See @ref{New spacing area} for more info.
-@c zzz
+Next we examine the effects of the @code{Separating_line_group_engraver} and
+see why proportional scores frequently remove this engraver. The following
+example shows that there is a small amount of @qq{preferatory} space
+just before the first note in each system.
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+\paper {
+ indent = #0
+}
+
+\new Staff {
+ c'1
+ \break
+ c'1
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+
+The amount of this preferatory space is the same whether after a time
+signature, a key signature or a clef. @code{Separating_line_group_engraver}
+is responsible for this space. Removing @code{Separating_line_group_engraver}
+reduces this space to zero.
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+\paper {
+ indent = #0
+}
+
+\new Staff \with {
+ \remove Separating_line_group_engraver
+} {
+ c'1
+ \break
+ c'1
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+Nonmusical elements like time signatures, key signatures, clefs and
+accidentals are problemmatic in proportional notation. None of these
+elements has rhythmic duration. But all of these elements consume
+horizontal space. Different proportional scores approach these
+problems differently.
+
+It may be possible to avoid spacing problems with key signatures
+simply by not having any. This is a valid option since most
+proportional scores are contemporary music. The same may be true
+of time signatures, especially for those scores
+that include a measured timeline or other graphic. But these scores
+are exceptional and most proportional scores include at least some
+time signatures. Clefs and accidentals are even more essential.
+
+So what strategies exist for spacing nonmusical elements in a
+proportional context? One good option is the @code{strict-note-spacing}
+property of @code{SpacingSpanner}. Compare the two scores below:
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+\new Staff {
+ \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
+ c''8
+ c''8
+ c''8
+ \clef alto
+ d'8
+ d'2
+}
+
+\new Staff {
+ \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 16)
+ \override Score.SpacingSpanner #'strict-note-spacing = ##t
+ c''8
+ c''8
+ c''8
+ \clef alto
+ d'8
+ d'2
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+Both scores are proportional, but the spacing in the first score is
+too loose because of the clef change. The spacing of the second score
+remains strict, however, because @code{strict-note-spacing} is turned
+on. Turning on @code{strict-note-spacing} causes the width of time
+signatures, key signatures and clefs to play no part in the spacing
+algorithm. Accidentals are a different matter, however. By default, all
+accidentals consume a little extra space, as the following pair of
+scores shows.
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+\new Staff {
+ \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 32)
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+}
+
+\new Staff {
+ \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 32)
+ c'16
+ cis'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+Both scores are proportional but the second score exhibits spacing
+irregularities due to accidentals. Turning on @code{strict-note-spacing}
+does not work for accidentals. Instead,
+we override the @code{X-extent} of all accidentals to zero and then move the
+accidentals to the left of the notes they modify.
+
+@lilypond[quote,verbatim,ragged-right]
+\new Staff {
+ \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1 32)
+ \override Accidental #'X-extent = #'(0 . 0)
+ \override Accidental #'extra-offset = #'(-1 . 0)
+ c'16
+ cis'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+ c'16
+}
+@end lilypond
+
+In addition to the settings given here, there are other settings that
+frequently appear in proportional scores. These include:
+
+@itemize
+@item @code{\override SpacingSpanner #'strict-grace-spacing = ##t}
+@item @code{tupletFullLength = ##t}
+@item @code{\override Beam #'breakable = ##t}
+@item @code{\override Glissando #'breakable = ##t}
+@item @code{\override TextSpanner #'breakable = ##t}
+@item @code{\remove Forbid_line_break_engraver in the Voice context}
+@end itemize
+
+These settings space grace notes strictly, extend tuplet brackets to
+mark both rhythmic start- and stop-points, and allow spanning elements
+to break across systems and pages. See the respective parts of the manual
+for these related settings.
+