An outrage! I am leading a rebellion!

[Australis]

Always used two spaces. Always will.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I've always put two spaces after a full stop when typing on a computer or typewriter keyboard. As well as being taught this way, it just makes sense.

Sadly, my mobile phone disagrees with me, but I'm going to get rid of it anyway as part of the new revolution.

 

[chardman]

I'm over 50, American, have worked in the printing/typesetting industry, and have never heard of this double-spacing nonsense until I entered this thread.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Two spaces good
One space bad.


Three spaces... better?

 

[Mary Ann]

Like TorontoTrekker, I've always just used one space after a period. That's pretty much how I was taught to do it. I guess it is a Canadian thing.

Frankly, two spaces seems unnecessary.

Speak for yourselves, young whippersnappers! I learned to type in Toronto on a manual typewriter (yes, children, such things existed ) in 1982 and two spaces was the rule. Since typing is sheer habit now I always do the two-space thing, even in text messages. I've been touch-typing for 28 years and darned if I'm changing my habits now.

 

[Adm_Hawthorne]

Printer's fonts (and most fonts used in word processing) have proportional spacing. Typewriter fonts like Courier and Prestige Elite are monospaced; that is, every character takes up exactly the same width, whether it's a capital M, a lowercase i, a space, a numeral, or a punctuation mark. Those of us who grew up in the typewriter age were taught to double-space after a period because it made the break between sentences clearer.

Modern digital word processing doesn't work like a typewriter at all; it's much closer to traditional book and newspaper typesetting. It adjusts spacing between characters and between words automatically. When typing on a computer, there's no more need to double-space after a period than there is to hit a carriage return at the end of a line. (Oh, that damned bell!)

And there's no need to put a double return between paragraphs either, if you know how to use paragraph formatting.

Thank you

 

[Holdfast]

I've heard of the two spaces thing, but these days it's a really Stone Age practice outside of certain specialised settings as word processors sort spacing issues out for you. Personally, I always single space. Because I'm that lazy...

 

[Spot's Meow]

I'm only 24 but I learned to type using 2 spaces. I know I don't need to anymore, but I honestly think it looks better. It makes sentences easier to read and not so squished together.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I was taught to put two spaces at the end of the sentence -- we all were then -- but I don't bother any more. Like others have said, it isn't really necessary w/ proportional spacing. If, God forbid, I had to use a typewriter again instead of a computer, I would revert to putting two spaces.

What drives me crazy is when someone isn't consistent w/in a document.

 

[SeerSGB]

I was taught 2 spaces. Then again, I was taught to right-align my return address in business letters.

 

[trekkiedane]

Two spaces??? Why, that would look just as wrong as multiple question marks or exclamation points!!!



Must be an American thing, just like those paper sheets that exactly manages to not please the eye (when are you going A4?) and the 3 (three ) ring binders.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

A wider space after a period didn't start with the typewriter, it is part of our genetic and cultural heritage from the days when punctuation and spacing signaled a person to take a breathing pause as he recited God's holy word. Sentences with only one space after the period aren't really sentences, and thus their content is invalid, their creator is flawed and heretical, and they convey nothing but a nasty stench into the nostrils of God.

In fact, the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament has no spaces between words OR between sentences. What does God have to say about that?

No vowels either! Which makes ancient Hebrew the precursor of 21st century netspeak/textspeak. IMHO.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Two spaces??? Why, that would look just as wrong as multiple question marks or exclamation points!!!



Must be an American thing, just like those paper sheets that exactly manages to not please the eye (when are you going A4?) and the 3 (three ) ring binders.

A4 vs. American letter size, I understand. But what's wrong w/ a 3-ring binder?

 

[trekkiedane]

Two spaces??? Why, that would look just as wrong as multiple question marks or exclamation points!!!



Must be an American thing, just like those paper sheets that exactly manages to not please the eye (when are you going A4?) and the 3 (three ) ring binders.

A4 vs. American letter size, I understand. But what's wrong w/ a 3-ring binder?

Mostly that when you have a sheet of paper ½ the size (A5 is half A4) you'd be stuck with 1½ hole. If A5 has two holes it follows that A4 should have four.

Of course there are a lot of other practical reasons to use two or four ring binders.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I'm over 50, American, have worked in the printing/typesetting industry, and have never heard of this double-spacing nonsense until I entered this thread.

I'll bet you never took a typing class or worked as a secretary.

 

[trekkiedane]

I'm over 50, American, have worked in the printing/typesetting industry, and have never heard of this double-spacing nonsense until I entered this thread.

I'll bet you never took a typing class or worked as a secretary.

I haven't, but I did take 'typewriting' in the late seventies and this also is the first I've heard of double spacing. I have however seen people using spaces both before and after the point, like this . I also think that looks plain wrong.

 

[WillsBabe]

Who's with me?!

I am. I was told that the Americans only put one space after their full stops. Obviously this isn't true. Maybe I've remembered wrongly and it was the Australians...? I was also told that the Australians will use 'this' to indicate speech marks while the Brits used "these". Maybe that was incorrect, too. Most of this post has been blather in order to get as many full stops in as possible.

I took RSA typing back in 1978 (50 wpm). I was told two spaces after a full stop, and that's what I've been doing ever since.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I have however seen people using spaces both before and after the point, like this . I also think that looks plain wrong.

Yikes! That IS plain wrong.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I use two spaces after a period, always have, always will. I even do here (out of force of habit i suppose) on the TBBS even though I know it'll be auto-corrected.

And I still think it makes a difference even in the computer age. I type everything with mono-spaced fonts (courier) and on the printed document I think it does make a difference and is easier to read.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I've never heard of this practice, but I've never used a typewriter or worked in editing either. Sounds weird and unnecessary in these times, but I guess it's not a big deal.