POLL: period space or period space space?

[dabuddha]

Always period space space.

 

[Vegitto]

It depends. On the PC, I just add one space after a period. When on a typewriter, I add two spaces after every period .

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: DougK62
You guys can argue until you're blue in the face, but it doesn't change the fact that one space after a period is correct when using modern fonts. Sorry, you lose.

wrong as hell.

the reason why it's proper to use two spaces after a period is because it's easier to tell where the next sentence starts. that's the way it's been for a LONG time. that's how it still is. the only difference is that, now, it's become acceptable to use a single space rather than two. it's kinda like using commas between a series of things. it's proper to use commas between the series of items and before the "and"... now, it's become acceptable to leave out the comma before the "and" (for example: proper - "sarah, doug, and james went to the store"... improper, yet acceptable - "sarah, doug and james went to the store."). the reason it's improper is because it's harder to tell whether you're talking to sarah and telling her that doug and james went to the store or if sarah went to the store with doug and james.

You know what also makes it easier to tell where the next sentence is starting?

Try capitalization.

proper nouns are capitalized. they can't be after an abbreviation with your one space rule or else it'd cause some confusion.

also, it's easier to find your spot in a text that has two spaces after periods (aka proper spacing after the ends of sentences). if you get lost or if you're skimming, you can find your spot or a sentence a lot easier.

 

[MajorMullet]

period space space

 

[Scarpozzi]

It should be period space space... If you take a typing course, you'll learn this....if you study MLA format, I believe it's one of the written rules. Trust me, when you edit things, it makes it a lot easier to find sentences and remove them, add them, etc....makes boundaries more visable on the page.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: DougK62
You guys can argue until you're blue in the face, but it doesn't change the fact that one space after a period is correct when using modern fonts. Sorry, you lose.

wrong as hell.

the reason why it's proper to use two spaces after a period is because it's easier to tell where the next sentence starts. that's the way it's been for a LONG time. that's how it still is. the only difference is that, now, it's become acceptable to use a single space rather than two. it's kinda like using commas between a series of things. it's proper to use commas between the series of items and before the "and"... now, it's become acceptable to leave out the comma before the "and" (for example: proper - "sarah, doug, and james went to the store"... improper, yet acceptable - "sarah, doug and james went to the store."). the reason it's improper is because it's harder to tell whether you're talking to sarah and telling her that doug and james went to the store or if sarah went to the store with doug and james.

You know what also makes it easier to tell where the next sentence is starting?

Try capitalization.

proper nouns are capitalized. they can't be after an abbreviation with your one space rule or else it'd cause some confusion.

I'm not picking sides here, I'm just pointing out that for all the importance you put in making sentences flow and be easier to read, you fail to do the basic things that would make your post more legible.

It struck me as silly.

 

[Turfzilla]

Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
When you end a sentence, do you period space or comma space space. It is natural to period space space but I see people at work and all over with just one space after a period and it drives me nuts for some reason.

woops

You are an idiot, there are two spaces after a period. See.

***NOTE: one space after the comma, two after the period***

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: DougK62
You guys can argue until you're blue in the face, but it doesn't change the fact that one space after a period is correct when using modern fonts. Sorry, you lose.

wrong as hell.

the reason why it's proper to use two spaces after a period is because it's easier to tell where the next sentence starts. that's the way it's been for a LONG time. that's how it still is. the only difference is that, now, it's become acceptable to use a single space rather than two. it's kinda like using commas between a series of things. it's proper to use commas between the series of items and before the "and"... now, it's become acceptable to leave out the comma before the "and" (for example: proper - "sarah, doug, and james went to the store"... improper, yet acceptable - "sarah, doug and james went to the store."). the reason it's improper is because it's harder to tell whether you're talking to sarah and telling her that doug and james went to the store or if sarah went to the store with doug and james.

You know what also makes it easier to tell where the next sentence is starting?

Try capitalization.

proper nouns are capitalized. they can't be after an abbreviation with your one space rule or else it'd cause some confusion.

I'm not picking sides here, I'm just pointing out that for all the importance you put in making sentences flow and be easier to read, you fail to do the basic things that would make your post more legible.

It struck me as silly.

my posts would be more legible if the forums would automatically allow two spaces after the ends of sentences.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: JS80
welcome to the present. computers =/= typewriters

And yet we still use the qwerty keyboard, a relic from typewriters that was primarily intended to slow you down.

 

[dethman]

this is a test. this is a test. this is a test.
this is a test. this is a test. this is a test.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: Turfzilla

Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
When you end a sentence, do you period space or comma space space. It is natural to period space space but I see people at work and all over with just one space after a period and it drives me nuts for some reason.

woops

You are an idiot, there are two spaces after a period. See.

***NOTE: one space after the comma, two after the period***

how's he an idiot? you two share the correct view on spacing after sentences.

 

[HombrePequeno]

Two spaces is how I learned to type in school. Looking at a recent paper I typed, however, it appears that I've transitioned to a single space after a period. I think I can blame that one on AnandTech only allowing for one space after a period.

 

[misle]

Period Space FTW!

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4 - Chicago Manual of Style
Link 5 - MLA guidelines

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: JS80
welcome to the present. computers =/= typewriters

And yet we still use the qwerty keyboard, a relic from typewriters that was primarily intended to slow you down.

Not it wasnt, it was designed to speed up typing. Unless you hunt-and-peck. I think the default on most games of using wasd is meant to slow you down. I use asdf, since that is where my fingers are naturally.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: misle
Period Space FTW!

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4 - Chicago Manual of Style
Link 5 - MLA guidelines

And yet, that's not the common usage. It's not required to be correct for an MLA paper, so I don't do it in the MLA papers I write. And while it may be common in typesetting houses and advertising, they don't do the majority of writing.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: TheNinja
period space space - if your'e an uneducated idiot.

One Space or Two?

Q. Please help. I have confusion regarding the correct spacing after periods and other closing punctuation. My company uses the font Arial and consistently uses a flush-left margin. We are an engineering company. My job consists in preparing documents and letters for customers. Everything I read in manuals and from technical writers directs me to use one space after periods. I find that it works very well, except occasionally, when an extra space helps readability. Knowledgeable engineers have embraced the one space use as being consistent with the font design and automation of reports. Others are unpleased with the one space, they think they have difficulty reading. (I, too, had an adjustment period which I forced myself to endure until it became automatic to read easily.) We are preparing technical information. What do you think? Thanks for your wonderful support and especially the quick answers. I greatly appreciate your service.

A. The view at CMOS is that there is no reason for two spaces after a period in published work. Some people, however?my colleagues included?prefer it, relegating this preference to their personal correspondence and notes. I?ve noticed in old American books printed in the few decades before and after the turn of the last century (ca. 1870?1930 at least) that there seemed to be a trend in publishing to use extra space (sometimes quite a bit of it) after periods. And many people were taught to use that extra space in typing class (I was). But introducing two spaces after the period causes problems: (1) it is inefficient, requiring an extra keystroke for every sentence; (2) even if a program is set to automatically put an extra space after a period, such automation is never foolproof; (3) there is no proof that an extra space actually improves readability?as your comment suggests, it?s probably just a matter of familiarity (Who knows? perhaps it?s actually more efficient to read with less regard for sentences as individual units of thought?many centuries ago, for example in ancient Greece, there were no spaces even between words, and no punctuation); (4) two spaces are harder to control for than one in electronic documents (I find that the earmark of a document that imposes a two-space rule is a smattering of instances of both three spaces and one space after a period, and two spaces in the middle of sentences); and (5) two spaces can cause problems with line breaks in certain programs.

So, in our efficient, modern world, I think there is no room for two spaces after a period. In the opinion of this particular copyeditor, this is a good thing.

The Chicago Manual of Style, Fifteenth Edition

Thanks - I've been meaning to go look in the AP style guide, but this reference works just fine for me too.

Google is your friend.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: JS80
welcome to the present. computers =/= typewriters

And yet we still use the qwerty keyboard, a relic from typewriters that was primarily intended to slow you down.

Not it wasnt, it was designed to speed up typing. Unless you hunt-and-peck. I think the default on most games of using wasd is meant to slow you down. I use asdf, since that is where my fingers are naturally.

It was all about arrow keys. Then windows 95 introduce the stupid Start Menu and all sorts of idiotic features that caused keyboards to throw in more and more buttons. It used to be ALT and CTRL. People's pinkies now have trouble reaching the space.

Shift used to be crouch, Space was jump. that's how Unreal was designed. Unreal tournament followed suit.

Half-Life was newer and all subsequent games decided to shift to WASD. I can still go wtih either one..

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
It should be period space space... If you take a typing course, you'll learn this....if you study MLA format, I believe it's one of the written rules. Trust me, when you edit things, it makes it a lot easier to find sentences and remove them, add them, etc....makes boundaries more visable on the page.

From the links above, you're the one needing to study MLA's opinion on how to space after punctuation.

 

[masterxfob]

i learned to double space in high school, and it's been with me since.

 

[Thraxen]

Does this really matter? It's obvious plenty of people use both methods.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: homercles337

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: JS80
welcome to the present. computers =/= typewriters

And yet we still use the qwerty keyboard, a relic from typewriters that was primarily intended to slow you down.

Not it wasnt, it was designed to speed up typing. Unless you hunt-and-peck. I think the default on most games of using wasd is meant to slow you down. I use asdf, since that is where my fingers are naturally.

You have no idea what you're talking about. qwerty was originally introduced on typewriters because the original format a-z led to the hammers getting jammed because certain letters next to each other (r,s,t,l,n,e?) were used too often.

 

[technophile82]

i have never been taught anything about using period space vs period space space. the first time i even came across this was a few months ago at work, and im 24, having gone through college. i have always used period space.

 

[2Dead]

I prefer to use period space space.

 

[Paperdoc]

It amazes me how many people have weighed in on this (myself included)!!! And the flare of the flamethrowers!
Reminds me of the much older debate on whether toilet paper should come off the front or the back of the roll!

 

[altonb1]

Period space space. It is always period space space. Doing less is wrong.

/thread