This problem is only showing up in IE. But I'm confused about how the browser - any browser - handles this. How it goes about calculating emspace and enspace and thinspace. Here's what's happening: I am using a free font called Gentium. font-size is set to 16px, line-height is set to 19px

All looks fine until I insert an emspace( ) or enspace( ) or   into the HTML.
Non breaking spaces -   are NOT a problem - that exists in the font as a character.

But if I try to use:   (char #8194) or   (char #8195) or   (char #8201) here's what's happening:

IE does create a space appr the correct width, but there seems to be a height to it, as well, and the whole line of text gets pushed downward (just a little, but noticeable)despite the CSS line-height rule.
Anybody know what's going on? Chars #8194 and #8195 and #8201 aren't usually included as part of the font file. How does the browser calculate it? (Usually it works fine.) Where does it pull the character from if it's missing from the font file?

Any input appreciated.

Thanks.