[ceejayoz]

It allows note taking and corrections on drafts.

Same deal with things like SCOTUS opinions. (Random example: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-624_b07d.pdf)

[gucci-on-fleek]

> Same deal with things like SCOTUS opinions. (Random example: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-624_b07d.pdf)

I don't think that that's quite right. SCOTUS opinions do indeed use a narrow text size (4 1/8" by 7 1/8" [0]), but that's because they're designed to be printed on unusually narrow paper (6 1/8" by 9 1/4" [0]), not to leave room for taking notes. This paper size actually only leaves 1" margins on either side, which leaves less room for taking notes than most other documents.

[0]: https://www.supremecourt.gov/filingandrules/2023RulesoftheCo...

[ceejayoz]

When the SCOTUS justices and staffers are marking up drafts, they’re likely using regular old letter sized paper.

That they can lop those margins off in the final printing that goes in a bound book is just saving a bunch of paper.

[lostlogin]

I’d have thought the 20+ pages before getting to the point would have allowed scrap paper for notes.

Maybe the foreword, acknowledgements, preface and various notes contained something of value.

[ceejayoz]

When you're driving a small car, do you expect the lanes to automatically shrink for you?

It's a standard so no one has to think "does this page have enough space", and the notes are often relevant to the current page. Stuff like the photo in https://www.thedailybeast.com/photo-details-obamas-speech-ed...

[lostlogin]

I was referring to the notes, notices and various preambles occupying the first quarter of the document.

[ceejayoz]

Which are a very different sort of notes than the ones I'm talking about.

They print it out and people go over it with a pen, make corrections, comments, etc.

[dylan604]

To me, I read it as they are stating those pages are really useless fluff that could essentially just be ripped out and used as scratch paper as they seemingly serve no other purpose.

[lostlogin]

Yes, this.

But as ceejayoz points out, taking notes on the actual page is better.

I was having a dig at how long it took for the document to get to the point.

[conductr]

Also allows flexibility in terms of binding options