Need an argument settled: How many spaces after periods in documents?

[Dr.Girlfriend]

What Aimee said.

It used to be two because typwriters give every character (be it a period, letter m, a comma, or a space) the same exact amount of space. By using two spaces after a period, it will emphasize a new sentence and not confuse the reader to think it was just a comma.

With today's word processing software and updated fonts, space for each character is dependent upon the character itself. A small letter i will take up less space than an m. These type of fonts are easier to read, so a double space after a sentence is no longer necessary.

Still, it is ingrained in most of us (those who grew up with typewriters) to continue to use two spaces after a period, although it is not necessary anymore. It isn't INCORRECT, it just isn't necessary.

Did you win the argument?

No, not really Still being told I'm too old school...and I'm only 32!

 

[Marionnette]

I was taught two spaces. I just asked my twenty-year-old daughter who is a writing whiz and the grammar/punctuation cop for all her friends. She says it's one unless you're cheating for space on an essay (LOL). Who knew? I guess that using two spaces after a period betrays my age more than my hairstyle or makeup!

 

[bballmom56]

THANK YOU! I thought I was going crazy. I had always put 2 spaces, but was informed by my kids (21 and 26) that I am wrong. Go figure. DS tells me how much it annoys him to read my writing that way . If only that were the extent of the annoyances in my life!

But I have now adopted their way - 1 space.

 

[design_mom]

What Aimee said.

It used to be two because typwriters give every character (be it a period, letter m, a comma, or a space) the same exact amount of space. By using two spaces after a period, it will emphasize a new sentence and not confuse the reader to think it was just a comma.

With today's word processing software and updated fonts, space for each character is dependent upon the character itself. A small letter i will take up less space than an m. These type of fonts are easier to read, so a double space after a sentence is no longer necessary.

Still, it is ingrained in most of us (those who grew up with typewriters) to continue to use two spaces after a period, although it is not necessary anymore. It isn't INCORRECT, it just isn't necessary.

Did you win the argument?

Agree, except that I'd say it's incorrect for word-processed or typeset documents. I am a graphic designer and the first thing I do when I receive copy is check it for double spaces after periods and remove them. Double spaces were correct for monotype typewriters, but single spaces are correct for word-processed documents.

 

[Disney Ella]

I was taught two spaces too, but the web content company I freelance for has drilled it into my head to use one space now and I really don't notice any difference in readability.

 

[marcyinPA]

Old school and proud of it. I use two spaces. Fortunately, I guess, I don't have a job for which this would matter much.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess back in the dark ages I used 2 spaces on a electric typewriter, but I always did 1 space on a word processor IIRC. Just too long ago....

 

[Christine]

I was always taught two spaces.

My kids were taught to use one space.

I don't think one space after a period has a good "look" to it and that there is a good reason for two spaces.

But, whatever, we just do what we're told!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I was taught two spaces after a period, only one after a comma. I guess I'm old, I'd never heard of these changes!

 

[taximomfor4]

Was taught 2 spaces on typewriter (back in "Typing" class days, lol). Then early on in college, for my first Composition course, had a word processor and learned that it's 1 space (due to character spacing, as a pp described). After the word processor, I got a pc. Since it uses word processing software, it's still 1 space (unless going into and changing to a "typewriter font" which puts in the odd character spacing).

LOL, reading that back, don't know if it makes any sense at all. I just know that on typewriters (high school), we had to put 2 spaces. Once using word processor or PC's word processing program (or really, any word processing font), it's 1 space. The 2 spaces became obsolete with the new character-dependent spacing.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

2 spaces is old school, 1 space is new school. However, I have never run into anyone (personally or professionally) who cares which school of thought you use.

I was taught 2 spaces, so that is what I'm use to typing but I usually just read over what I have written after I choose what font to use. If the font makes it where there is a huge gap between sentences then I go back and change it to 1 space.

 

[Geoff_M]

Proper rules of grammar do change over time just as vocabulary changes. Language is not a finite thing, but rather the evolving process of human communication. The circumstances of how you communicate affect the rules, which is why we have an entirely different acronym language for text messaging.

I understand that. I'm in the middle of reading Bill Bryson's The Mother Tongue, English and How It Got That Way, about the evolution of our language. Not to start a side debate, but I don't think that the popularization of text-speak represents an advancement of our communications skills in general. The problem is that its use has not limited itself to the mediums that require the brevity. I think the "twitter-ization" of the upcoming generation's writing skills make the expression and comprehension of complex thoughts and ideas more of a challenge. My Mom is a university instructor and she's noticed this trend in her student's written work. My wife, who's a middle school teacher, sees "text-speak" all the time in class work... and she teaches math.

As for the changing standard in sentence spacing, it's understandable, but still catch myself occasionally mistaking a period for a comma (particularly when the next sentence starts with "I") with the truncated spacing.

 

[dani0622]

I was an editor for nine years and now have spent the last four years doing corporate communications for large corporations and currently am head of my company's internal communications. We follow MLA style which is one space, for all of our internal and external communications. However, which that said, it's not wrong to use two spaces, just a matter of preference and style.

 

[paintnolish]

I just graduated with a degree in English. We used one space after the period.
http://www.mla.org/style_faq3

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I use two spaces, but both of my children were taught 1. I would proof for them all the time and put the two spaces in. I was blessed though, they never said anything to me when I kept trying to correct them. They just went back in, re-placed the one space and handed in their papers. They were just happy I would proof for them.

So I guess the answer is, if your over 30ish, you use 2 spaces, under would be one. (not exactly sure when it changed for my 30ish may be off)

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I use two spaces, but both of my children were taught 1. I would proof for them all the time and put the two spaces in. I was blessed though, they never said anything to me when I kept trying to correct them. They just went back in, re-placed the one space and handed in their papers. They were just happy I would proof for them.

So I guess the answer is, if your over 30ish, you use 2 spaces, under would be one. (not exactly sure when it changed for my 30ish may be off)

I'm 30 and was taught two spaces.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I'm 30 and was taught two spaces.

So maybe I should change that to over 20ish?? , I am old enough that your 30 seems really young to me., gonna go get my walker and pull out the manual typewriter!

 

[Jenn310]

I'm 26 and just graduted with my BSBA from a major university and always used 2 spaces. My brother who is 28 also has always done 2. I never heard of the 1 space till I read a post just like this on another forum.

 

[sparklynails23]

Almost 25 years ago I was told it's two spaces for a typewriter and one for a word processer, because the word processor automatically kerns letters and punctuation. It squishes them together into proper spacing.

 

[cybrkitn]

New rules? No wonder the English language is the hardest to learn! The rules keep changing