diff --git a/src/bond.cpp b/src/bond.cpp
index 1f72cbb2cb..f14cae1090 100644
--- a/src/bond.cpp
+++ b/src/bond.cpp
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ void Bond::write_file(int narg, char **arg)
     for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
       r = inner + dr * static_cast<double>(i);
       e = single(btype, r * r, itype, jtype, f);
-      fprintf(fp, "%d %.15g %.15g %.15g\n", i + 1, r, e, f * r);
+      fprintf(fp, "%8d %- 22.15g %- 22.15g %- 22.15g\n", i + 1, r, e, f * r);
     }
     fclose(fp);
   }
diff --git a/src/pair.cpp b/src/pair.cpp
index fc7232d615..44a63f211b 100644
--- a/src/pair.cpp
+++ b/src/pair.cpp
@@ -1921,7 +1921,7 @@ void Pair::write_file(int narg, char **arg)
       e = single(0,1,itype,jtype,rsq,1.0,1.0,f);
       f *= r;
     } else e = f = 0.0;
-    if (comm->me == 0) fprintf(fp,"%d %.15g %.15g %.15g\n",i+1,r,e,f);
+    if (comm->me == 0) fprintf(fp,"%8d %- 22.15g %- 22.15g %- 22.15g\n",i+1,r,e,f);
   }
 
   // restore original vecs that were swapped in for