table class and column spacing

I am soooo struggling trying to understand table class and <td> column spacing. I have tried using a class for my literal and then a separate class for my data textbox. I have tried using the "width" within both. What happens is my literal is all the way to one side and my data entry text box all the way over to the other side with lots of white space in between.
Can someone please help me understand the table class and the <td> placement of columns within a web form?? Be it a YouTube...be it a web page...a tutorial
I am trying in vain to work with my HTML and get the spacing right.
Thanks for your review and am hopeful for a reply.
PSULionRP