title: Formatting a list of text into columns
body: <p>I'm trying to output a list of string values into a 2 column format. The standard way of making a list of strings into "normal text" is by using the <strong>string.join</strong> method. However, it only takes 2 arguments so I can only make a single column using "\n". I thought trying to make a loop that would simply add a tab between columns would do it but the logic didn't work correctly.</p>
  
  <p>I found an <a href="http://code.activestate.com/recipes/302380/" rel="noreferrer">ActiveState page</a> that has a fairly complicated way of doing it but it's from 4 years ago. Is there an easy way to do it nowadays?</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>Edit</strong> Here is the list that I want to use.</p>
  
  <pre><code>skills_defs = ["ACM:Aircraft Mechanic", "BC:Body Combat", "BIO:Biology",
      "CBE:Combat Engineer", "CHM:Chemistry", "CMP:Computers", 
      "CRM:Combat Rifeman", "CVE:Civil Engineer", "DIS:Disguise",
      "ELC:Electronics","EQ:Equestrian", "FO:Forward Observer",
      "FOR:Forage", "FRG:Forgery", "FRM:Farming", "FSH:Fishing",
      "GEO:Geology", "GS:Gunsmith", "HW:Heavy Weapons", "IF:Indirect Fire",
      "INS:Instruction", "INT:Interrogation", "JP:Jet Pilot", "LB:Longbow",
      "LAP:Light Aircraft Pilot", "LCG:Large Caliber Gun", "LNG:Language",
      "LP:Lockpick", "MC:Melee Combat", "MCY:Motorcycle", "MEC:Mechanic",
      "MED:Medical", "MET:Meterology", "MNE:Mining Engineer",
      "MTL:Metallurgy", "MTN:Mountaineering", "NWH:Nuclear Warhead",
      "PAR:Parachute", "PST:Pistol", "RCN:Recon", "RWP:Rotary Wing Pilot",
      "SBH:Small Boat Handling","SCD:Scuba Diving", "SCR:Scrounging",
      "SWM:Swimming", "TW:Thrown Weapon", "TVD:Tracked Vehicle Driver",
      "WVD:Wheeled Vehicle Driver"]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I just want to output this list into a simple, 2 column format to reduce space. Ideally there should be a standard amount of space between the columns but I can work with it.</p>
  
  <pre><code>ACM:Aircraft Mechanic        BC:Body Combat 
  BIO:Biology         CBE:Combat Engineer 
  CHM:Chemistry       CMP:Computers
  CRM:Combat Rifeman      CVE:Civil Engineer 
  DIS:Disguise            ELC:Electronics 
  EQ:Equestrian           FO:Forward Observer
  FOR:Forage          FRG:Forgery 
  FRM:Farming             FSH:Fishing
  GEO:Geology             GS:Gunsmith 
  HW:Heavy Weapons        IF:Indirect Fire
  INS:Instruction             INT:Interrogation 
  JP:Jet Pilot            LB:Longbow
   LAP:Light Aircraft Pilot       LCG:Large Caliber Gun 
  LNG:Language            LP:Lockpick 
  MC:Melee Combat         MCY:Motorcycle 
  MEC:Mechanic            MED:Medical 
  MET:Meterology      MNE:Mining Engineer
  MTL:Metallurgy      MTN:Mountaineering 
  NWH:Nuclear Warhead     PAR:Parachute 
  PST:Pistol          RCN:Recon 
  RWP:Rotary Wing Pilot       SBH:Small Boat Handling 
  SCD:Scuba Diving        SCR:Scrounging
  SWM:Swimming        TW:Thrown Weapon 
  TVD:Tracked Vehicle Driver  WVD:Wheeled Vehicle Driver
  </code></pre>