Why do students often type TWO spaces after a period - POLL added

[Amy]

Like somebody said, with manual typewriters, all the fonts were the same size. So the rule was to put 2 spaces at the end of a sentence to clearly show the "break" between sentences. And since I learned on a manual typewriter (showing my age here!!), that's the way I've always done it. I read somewhere that now with computers and proportional fonts/spacing, the 2-space rule is no longer carved in stone and 1 space is more acceptable.

It's funny, I also learned to use commas to separate items in a list: red, blue, and green. Then I started working at a law firm, and their rule was to eliminate the comma before the "and": red, blue and green. So I had to re-learn that. And now, after more than 20 years here, they're going back to putting the comma in before the "and" for clarity.

So who knows? Maybe in a few years, we'll go back to the 2-space rule!

 

[mickeyboat]

I use two spaces, too. I also use two spaces between city and state. I understand why the need no longer exists to have two spaces, but why change the rule? It's just something else to confuse us old people.

Denae

 

[Minnesota!]

I was taught two spaces after a period, one space after a comma.

Ditto. I learned on typewriter for 1 year and then 3 on computer (graduated in 1996)

 

[jgmklmhem]

The formatting nazi (as we affectionately called her) for dissertations for the whole university when I was in grad school said that one space is now fine when using most all computer software like word. Believe me if it wasn't proper it would not have made it past her desk unmarked.The two space rule as others have stated was due to typewriters not having any proportionality whereas computers have changed that aspect of typing. The two space rule was never taught to me and any of my writing courses in highschool or college. We never used typewriters though only computers.

 

[Nancy]

I type all my school papers in Word and it doesn't autocorrect the one space I have to use for them. College papers are very strict with their formatting, it took me forever to re-learn what they now say is the correct way to do things. It is now second nature for me to use only one space.

 

[DISUNC]

BTW, DISUNC, two spaces follow U.S. postal zip code abbreviations, not five. Each state has a two-letter code to be typed in capital letters and followed by two spaces, then the zip code numbers. That's the proper form.

Thanks. No wonder my letters get lost!

 

[Becky2005]

I was always taught it's 2 spaces after a period and that was eons ago when I was in school.

 

[Towncrier]

Many true word processing software packages will not allow two spaces after a period if you are using a proportional font. And since hardly anyone uses monospaced fonts (like Courier) anymore, there is no need to put in the additional space.

This is another great example of an issue that tends to polarize people. I, myself, am in the single space camp. My wife, on the other hand, insists on typing two spaces after each period. Fortunately, we rarely share documents.

As an aside, whenever I edit a document, one of the first things I do is to use MS Word to eliminate double spaces after periods. That gives the next person who works on the document something to do (if they are from the two space tribe).

 

[CheshireVal]

Yup thats the LAW of English Grammer! It has to do with a longer break between sentences.

Also if you dont do it while typing using MS WORD...it will do it for you. You will get error msgs if less then two spaces. Every magazine, book & printed anything has 2 spaces between the sentences.


Class dimissed!

Actually, most news publications follow AP style guidelines, which means only one space after a period. I used to work in journalism, so this was hard for me to get used to after majoring in English, where my academic papers needed two spaces.

 

[beattyfamily]

As an aside, whenever I edit a document, one of the first things I do is to use MS Word to eliminate double spaces after periods. That gives the next person who works on the document something to do (if they are from the two space tribe).

I do the exact same thing when my DH asks me to proof read his letters!! The first thing I do is go and put 2 spaces in!

 

[cheerbop]

I was taught 2 after periods, one after commas, etc.

 

[Becky2005]

I was taught 2 spaces after a period and that alot was spelled alot not a lot. I understand they changed the "rule" on this about 15 years ago! LOl Showing my age!

Really for alot??? Hmmm....to this day I remember that one because I got it marked WRONG for being "alot" in a paper. It was a paper on explaining something, other kids edited it, the girl who corrected my paper changed my "alot" to "a lot" -- I thought that looked wrong, re-wrote it with alot and the teacher marked it wrong. It stuck in my head that having it seperated was the correct way even though when you say it, it's all slurred together.

Of course, it was over 20 years ago that happened so what do I know -- I didn't get the memo that they changed the rules.

I so can't handle this (I'm still dealing with dinosaur name changes, more than Saturn planets having rings & now poor Pluto isn't even a planet -- my poor kids, I can no longer help them in school because everything I know is now obsolete. ).

 

[Amy]

I so can't handle this (I'm still dealing with dinosaur name changes, more than Saturn planets having rings & now poor Pluto isn't even a planet -- my poor kids, I can no longer help them in school because everything I know is now obsolete. ).

I'm right there with you! No way can I help my boys even with simple Algebra because they do everything different now........

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I just looked this up in The Gregg Reference Manual . It basically said that one space is appropriate now, but if you are using a font where it looks too cramped then use two spaces. Also, it says if you end one sentence with an abbrevation and start the next one with an abbreviation, the use of one space may be inadequate. It also noted that when one uses justified right margins, the width of the single space can vary. So there ya have it. Obviously this just has to do with business writing. Educational writing may differ.

 

[Becky2005]

I just looked this up in The Gregg Reference Manual . It basically said that one space is appropriate now, but if you are using a font where it looks too cramped then use two spaces. Also, it says if you end one sentence with an abbrevation and start the next one with an abbreviation, the use of one space may be inadequate. It also noted that when one uses justified right margins, the width of the single space can vary. So there ya have it. Obviously this just has to do with business writing. Educational writing may differ.

So in other words -- just do what you want to make it *look* correct on the page.

Ahh...this is what I get for getting my certificates in secretarial stuff, all the basic rules are changing -- I don't think I can handle changing to only 1 space after a period. Now, I will be curious what they will be teaching my kids is the correct way. I never thought to ask them "how much space do you put between sentences?" I think I will do that today for my oldest and see her look at me like I've lost my mind (again!).

 

[87Heel]

To add to the chorus of those working in publishing, it's one space. One space is the rule everywhere I've worked (newspapers, public relations, magazines, graphic design firm). Oh, and if you're sending your Word document to the design firm, editor, etc., we're "finding and replacing" all of your two spaces to one space (and sometimes grumbling that we wish these people would catch on that they're not using typewriters now!).
And I've used many versions of Word on PCs and Macs and never had it autocorrect to 2 spaces.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

in high school we were taught to space twice after a period. i never understood why and i don't do it now. my mother is a secretary and she spaces twice.

 

[Kimberly815]

I'm a two-spacer too . . . just one of those things. <--- Look at those pretty spaces!!

 

[NewJersey]

I was always taught to type 2 spaces after a period. It's to better distinguish a sentence from just two words.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I'm a two-spacer too . . . just one of those things. <--- Look at those pretty spaces!!

There is only one space when it posts, the software CORRECTS it.