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

[sugarpie]

2 spaces.

 

[Briarmom]

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

Holy crap!! I never noticed that. I type two spaced. Always have. But I learned to type on a computer. Two spaces were always the rules in my high school/college classes.
I don't think I can stop typing this way.

 

[anewvance]

I was taught 2 spaces after a period in my high school typing class. So it's what I have always done! LoL

 

[escape]

And I've used many versions of Word on PCs and Macs and never had it autocorrect to 2 spaces.

The latest version, Word 2003, allows for either one space or two spaces.

 

[beck0321]

I don't know if this has been posted yet, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating:

This is what the MLA guidlines have to say about it:

"Publications in the United States today usually have the same spacing after a punctuation mark as between words on the same line. Since word processors make available the same fonts used by typesetters for printed works, many writers, influenced by the look of typeset publications, now leave only one space after a concluding punctuation mark. In addition, most publishers' guidelines for preparing a manuscript on disk ask authors to type only the spaces that are to appear in print.

Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared with a single space after all punctuation marks, this spacing is shown in the examples in the MLA Handbook and the MLA Style Manual. As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor or editor requests that you do otherwise."

And this is what AP has to say about it:

"SPACING: Use a single space after a period at the end of a sentence."

I was taught MLA style in highschool English and so I used two spaces after each sentence. When I majored in Mass Comm in college my professors taught us to use only ONE space, since we follow AP guides. That is what I use now, esp because this is what my job calls for. Now when people forward me documents with the double space, it sort of annoys me because I have to go through and take them out.


ETA: It also peeves me when people list stuff in a sentence and put a comma before the word "and." Example: I want breakfast, lunch, and dinner. <-- According to AP style there should be no comma after the word "lunch."
Not sure if MLA calls for this, I couldn't find it online.

 

[Brise Nannie]

When we learned on typewriters way back when, the rule was: two spaces after a period.



That's exactly the way I was taught too!

 

[tar heel]

I was taught two spaces after a period THAT ENDS A SENTENCE. You only use one space after other periods (Dr., Mrs., etc.) It's been a few years (decades ), and I still follow the rules.

 

[SarahK]

Another one for the "two spaces after a period" rule (if it ends a sentence!)

 

[VioltePrincess]

My Gregg's says to use one space unless the font doesn't provide enough of a visual break between sentences, i.e., use two spaces after a period when using Times New Roman or your sentences will look like run-ons.

 

[VampHeartless]

We write all our business proposals (500 page long documents), with two spaces after every period. Some people don't like it, but it looks more professional.

 

[VampHeartless]

ETA: It also peeves me when people list stuff in a sentence and put a comma before the word "and." Example: I want breakfast, lunch, and dinner. <-- According to AP style there should be no comma after the word "lunch."
Not sure if MLA calls for this, I couldn't find it online.

In our colllege course, we were taught the comma placement in this situation is now a stylistic choice. Most journalism entries will use the extra comma, while most school paper will not. It's been an ongoing debate in the English community a while, I guess.

 

[plutolovr]

I recently worked for a newspaper and when I started there I would type my copy with the two spaces after the period. Guess what! Only one space was required at the paper. It took me a long time to get used to this.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Another "two space after a period; one space after a comma" person checking in

 

[CheshireVal]

ETA: It also peeves me when people list stuff in a sentence and put a comma before the word "and." Example: I want breakfast, lunch, and dinner. <-- According to AP style there should be no comma after the word "lunch."
Not sure if MLA calls for this, I couldn't find it online.

While you're right about the AP style, most academic writing follows MLA, which considers the comma before 'and' optional. I personally always use it, but I had to force myself not to when I was writing professionally. When I wrote for newspapers and magazines, I wasn't supposed to use that extra comma.

 

[Minnie]

It depends on the style required. In my undergrad days we were required to us MLA form which is 2 spaces.

Now that I'm in an MBA program we are required to use APA format (which is a pain in the tail by the way) and use only one space.

I can't tell u how many papers I've had to go back and fix because of this that during my 1st term Now that I'm almost done its just normal.

 

[Dodie]

When I learned to type (in high school in the late 70's) you HAD to type two spaces after every period (or ! or ?), one space after a comma. I still type that way, although I think it's less standardized with computer-typing(?) I can't imagine that I'd ever be able to break that habit.

 

[imsorry]

Because that is the correct way to do it. I was trained as a secretary; you always but two spaces after a period.

And two blank lines between a paragraph.

 

[summerrluvv]

I type 2 spaces and that's what I learned back in HS. I recently took a Civil Service typing test and if you didn't put 2 spaces at the end of the period, it was incorrect and counted as an error. The person sitting next to me failed because of all the spacing errors.

 

[summerrluvv]

Because that is the correct way to do it. I was trained as a secretary; you always but two spaces after a period.

And two blank lines between a paragraph.

Now that I've never heard of. I've been a Secretary for about 10 years in various industries and everywhere I have worked we have always used one blank line between a paragraph.

 

[Minnie]

Because that is the correct way to do it. I was trained as a secretary; you always but two spaces after a period.

And two blank lines between a paragraph.

Nope its not always the correct way to do it. It depends on the format that is required in the profession or in the OPs and my case the academic requirements.

The MBA program I attend requieres the APA format which requires very strict formating guidelines. 1 space after a period, double space between every line, and other very specific guidelines that must be followed. It is very different from traditional format.