Creating columns with setw without counting characters

[sega dude]

For my (online) programming class, I have to format certain output in columns using setw. I am having trouble understanding how to do this. My professor says that I am supposed to be creating columns, not counting characters to align things. I haven't been able to find any examples of this online. I've been doing something similar to this to align things:

cout << setw(10) << someVarible << setw(15) << someOtherVarible << setw(20)
          << anotherVarible;

Apparently, this is not the way I am supposed to do this, and I've gotten points taken off on my assignments because of this. How exactly to I create columns using setw? Example code would be helpful. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[laserlight]

Why not ask your professor for an example of what is expected?