Grammar Nazis: question on comma usage and spacing

[johnjbruin]

Originally posted by: idNut
#1 There is only one space after a period.
#2 That is by preference.

yup.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
I only put one space at the end of a sentence. This is according to the Publication Manual of the APA. Of course, it's difficult because in school we were told to use two spaces. The comma thing, I had been taught to use the comma before the and at the end of a list.

Two spaces after a sentence-ending period is the "classic" style, which was used mainly with typewriters because it helped clarify things with the fixed-width fonts. Modern word processing has made a single space acceptable after a sentence-ending period, but a lot of places still prefer to see two spaces after a period.

I personally use two spaces after a sentence-ending period because I like to keep the old rules, but it's more a matter of personal style anymore.

ZV

 

[Alphazero]

One space, though it doesn't usually matter.

The comma before the last item in a list, before the and, is optional. But however you choose to use it, make sure you're consistent.

 

[Dufman]

#1. back in the olden days, the reason you would put two spaces after a . beccasue each letter took up different amount of space. a K would take more than a .
but now, letters take up hte same amount of space. thus only 1 space after a .

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: amdmang
#1. back in the olden days, the reason you would put two spaces after a . beccasue each letter took up different amount of space. a K would take more than a .
but now, letters take up hte same amount of space. thus only 1 space after a .

Back in the olden days? Why you little...When I get my hands on you I'm gunna....

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: amdmang
#1. back in the olden days, the reason you would put two spaces after a . beccasue each letter took up different amount of space. a K would take more than a .
but now, letters take up hte same amount of space. thus only 1 space after a .

Uh, you've got it backwards. Typewriters have monospaced fonts, meaning that an "I" takes up the same amount of space as an "m". Computers use variable-width fonts most of the time. ("Courier" is monospaced, "Times New Roman" is variable-width.)

ZV

 

[C'DaleRider]

Originally posted by: nater
Alright I have two questions about grammar that are bugging me.

And the word is all right, not alright. Already is the word with one "L", all right has 2 "L's".

Usage note (from the American Heritage Dictionary, 3d ed.):

"All right, usually pronounced as if it were a single word, probably should have followed the same orthographic development as already and altogether. But despite its use by a number of reputable authors, the spelling alright has never been accepted as a standard variant, and the writer who chooses to risk that spelling had best be confident that readers will not acknowledge it as a mark of ignorance."

😉

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: nater
Alright I have two questions about grammar that are bugging me.

#1
I was always told that you put two spaces after a period, is that true? Or is it just one?

#2
In a list of items, such as "I ate a pear, a peach, and an apple today" is there a comma before the and or not? I swear I was taught that there is, but recently I've been told there isn't.

#1 Yes

#2 Yes, unless you are doing jounalistic writing (i.e. newspaper), then no.

 

[PAB]

Originally posted by: Spoooon

Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
wow, I never realized that two spaces after a period wasn't a universal practice. I had always been taught that there are two spaces after the period that ends a sentence, and then just one space after a comma. I have never heard of the APA, but isn't the MLA the group that sets the grammar rules? Because in their books they teach two spaces after a period

MLA- The Medical Library Association (MLA) Style Manual presents guidelines for all MLA publications, print and electronic, including but not limited to the Journal of Medical Library Association (formerly the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association), MLA News, MLA Directory, MLANET, annual meeting publications, monographs, and brochures.

APA- American Psychological Association

Last time I checked, APA was the format adopted by most medical schools and such and MLA stood for Modern Language Association.

-PAB

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: PAB

Originally posted by: Spoooon

Originally posted by: Stojakapimp
wow, I never realized that two spaces after a period wasn't a universal practice. I had always been taught that there are two spaces after the period that ends a sentence, and then just one space after a comma. I have never heard of the APA, but isn't the MLA the group that sets the grammar rules? Because in their books they teach two spaces after a period

MLA- The Medical Library Association (MLA) Style Manual presents guidelines for all MLA publications, print and electronic, including but not limited to the Journal of Medical Library Association (formerly the Bulletin of the Medical Library Association), MLA News, MLA Directory, MLANET, annual meeting publications, monographs, and brochures.

APA- American Psychological Association

Last time I checked, APA was the format adopted by most medical schools and such and MLA stood for Modern Language Association.

-PAB

I have to use freaking APA for my Art History class.

 

[joohang]

I follow the rule that gopunk posted. It makes sense to me, actually. I never really learned that way but writing system developed that way.

I omit the comma before "and" for listing items. I always add a comma when I use it as a coordinating conjunction to avoid confusion.

I am not sure about the two spaces. Some people do that but I personally don't like it.

Here is my question (to hijack the thread):
How do quotations work?

i.e. Which of the following are correct?
A1: I talked to an online friend, who goes by the alias "gopunk."
A2: I talked to an online friend, who goes by the alias "gopunk".

([1] refers to footnote marker - so I'm quoting a book by Schwartz and the original quote does not include the period.)
B1: According to Ben Schwartz, "the king had no right to kill his minister".[1]
B2: According to Ben Schwartz, "the king had no right to kill his minister."[1]

Quotations always confused me but I was too lazy to email my former English 112 professor. 🙂 Or do a simple Google search. 🙂