[CSS21][17.5.2.1 Fixed table layout] Imprecise sentence; editorial improvement proposed

Hello,

I believe there is a sentence in section 17.5.2.1 which is not clear and
not precise. I'm giving a large quotation so that context is restored.

"
In the fixed table layout algorithm, the width of each column is
determined as follows:

1.    A column element with a value other than 'auto' for the 'width'
property sets the width for that column.
2.    Otherwise, a cell in the first row with a value other than 'auto'
for the 'width' property determines the width for that column. If the cell
spans more than one column, the width is divided over the columns.
3.    Any remaining columns equally divide the remaining horizontal table
space (minus borders or cell spacing).

The width of the table is then the greater of the value of the 'width'
property for the table element and the sum of the column widths (plus cell
spacing or borders).
"
17.5.2.1 Fixed table layout
http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/tables.html#fixed-table-layout

What to change and how?

"(plus cell spacing or borders)": I think this is imprecise and not clear.

What to edit instead? How to replace it? With the following:

"(plus table border-spacing if the table uses the separated borders border
model or plus half of table borders if the table uses the collapsing
borders model)."

And even here, it can still be tricky as the left table border is half the
leftmost cell's collapsed left border and the right table border is half
the rightmost cell's collapsed right border.

"
The left border width of the table is half of the first cell's collapsed
left border, and the right border width of the table is half of the last
cell's collapsed right border.
"

regards, Gérard
-- 
CSS 2.1 Test suite RC6, March 23rd 2011
http://test.csswg.org/suites/css2.1/20110323/html4/toc.html

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Received on Thursday, 17 November 2011 23:06:52 UTC