column
string='
abc 123 def
pqrst 45678 vwxyz
'
echo "$string" | column -t -s' ' -R2
# abc 123 def
# pqrst 45678 vwxyz
printf
%-n
: n characters
%n
: n characters align right
s
: string
d
: only leading digits
printf "%-5s %10d %s\n" abc 123 def
# abc 123 def
# 12345.1234567890.12345 <- column width 'n'