This template can be used to control the width of an item's prefix in a vertical list. Although most applicable to lists sorted by date, the template technically can be used to control the width of any text, since it's basically a span tag wrapped in a template.
Default
4 Jan: First event
26 Jun: Second event
30 Sep: Third event
{{vad| 4 Jan:}} First event
{{vad|26 Jun:}} Second event
{{vad|30 Sep:}} Third event
Left-aligned
4 Jan: First event
26 Jun: Second event
30 Sep: Third event
{{vad|align=left| 4 Jan:}} First event
{{vad|align=left|26 Jun:}} Second event
{{vad|align=left|30 Sep:}} Third event
Increased width
4 January: First event
26 June: Second event
30 September: Third event
{{vad|width=7em|4 January:}} First event
{{vad|width=7em|26 June:}} Second event
{{vad|width=7em|30 September:}} Third event
Left-aligned, increased width
4 January: First event
26 June: Second event
30 September: Third event
{{vad|align=left|width=7em|4 January:}} First event
{{vad|align=left|width=7em|26 June:}} Second event
{{vad|align=left|width=7em|30 September:}} Third event
