formatting list calm columns

i'm perplexing cost list twine values 2 buttress format. customary proceed origination list strings "normal text" controlling string.join method. however, wholly takes 2 arguments i wholly unparalleled buttress controlling "\n". i guess perplexing loop simply supplement add-on between columns nonetheless explanation didn't work correctly.

i found an sincerely difficult proceed doing nonetheless it's 4 years ago. there an easy proceed nowadays?

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edit here list i wish use.

skills_defs = ["acm:aircraft mechanic", "bc:body combat", "bio:biology",
    "cbe:combat engineer", "chm:chemistry", "cmp:computers", 
    "crm:combat rifeman", "cve:civil engineer", "dis:disguise",
    "elc:electronics","eq:equestrian", "fo:forward observer",
    "for:forage", "frg:forgery", "frm:farming", "fsh:fishing",
    "geo:geology", "gs:gunsmith", "hw:heavy weapons", "if:indirect fire",
    "ins:instruction", "int:interrogation", "jp:jet pilot", "lb:longbow",
    "lap:light aircraft pilot", "lcg:large size gun", "lng:language",
    "lp:lockpick", "mc:melee combat", "mcy:motorcycle", "mec:mechanic",
    "med:medical", "met:meterology", "mne:mining engineer",
    "mtl:metallurgy", "mtn:mountaineering", "nwh:nuclear warhead",
    "par:parachute", "pst:pistol", "rcn:recon", "rwp:rotary wing pilot",
    "sbh:small vessel handling","scd:scuba diving", "scr:scrounging",
    "swm:swimming", "tw:thrown weapon", "tvd:tracked car driver",
    "wvd:wheeled car driver"]

i only wish cost list simple, 2 buttress format devaluate space. ideally there should customary volume space between columns nonetheless i work it.

acm:aircraft automechanic        bc:body fight 
bio:biology         cbe:combat operative 
chm:chemistry       cmp:computers
crm:combat rifeman      cve:civil operative 
dis:disguise            elc:electronics 
eq:equestrian           fo:forward observer
for:forage          frg:forgery 
frm:farming             fsh:fishing
geo:geology             gs:gunsmith 
hw:heavy weapons        if:indirect fire
ins:instruction             int:interrogation 
jp:jet commander            lb:longbow
 lap:light aircraft commander       lcg:large size gun 
lng:language            lp:lockpick 
mc:melee fight         mcy:motorcycle 
mec:mechanic            med:medical 
met:meterology      mne:mining engineer
mtl:metallurgy      mtn:mountaineering 
nwh:nuclear warhead     par:parachute 
pst:pistol          rcn:recon 
rwp:rotary wing commander       sbh:small vessel doing 
scd:scuba diving        scr:scrounging
swm:swimming        tw:thrown arms 
tvd:tracked car engineer  wvd:wheeled car driver