POLL: period space or period space space?

[eits]

Originally posted by: 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!

the back.

 

[JujuFish]

I prefer period space space. It looks better that way.

 

[silverpig]

Just one space. People can argue for two all they like, but they're just doing it because that's what they're used to.

 

[Nik]

On a typewriter, double-spaced. On a computer, single spaced.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: sash1
i learned two spaces way back in the day. i don't know anyone who uses two spaces anymore. i just think it looks bad, and i've gotten so used to just using one space.

i can't believe the poll, do that many people actually double space after a period still? because no one is doing it in this thread.

apparently, you don't know most of the properly educated people, then.

Please stfu, you freaking idiot. You have provided no proof for your obstinant, antiquated beliefs. Publishers and copy editors are the ones who make these standards, and their standard is ONE SPACE. The reason why most people say 2 spaces is because their middle or high school teacher told them to. These people don't make the standards. You are the uneducated moron, not the rest of us. You're just too stupid to realize this fact.

I was taught in a very good school (referencing you're pretentious statement about good schools teaching 2 spaces) that an intelligent person must take different sources and compare their validity, choose the more credible sources, then reference those sources in the body of their writing. You have done none of these because you are stupid.


The following posters are intelligent:

Originally posted by: misle
Period Space FTW!

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

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

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
oh for christ sake.

pick up a book. one space.
pick up a newspaper. one space.
pick up your bank statement. one space.
pick up a research article printed in an academic journal. one space.
HTML doesn't even recognize two spaces.

and no, the word processor does not "correct" it to two spaces. there would be no way for the processor to tell the difference between an abbreviation and the end of a sentance. what it does correct for is missed capital letters, but that doesn't affect the spacing.

that two space crap is a hold-over from the type-writer days and any school still teaching it needs to take their heads out of their buttholes and smell the silicon.

but i guess if a few ATOT mouth-breathers can't read english without arbitrary aids (do you guys need "big text," too?), then the world's professional writing community must be wrong.

I love how absolutely none of the pro-double space crowd has provided a single link for justification. As another poster pointed out, A simple google search tells you that 1 space is the standard. The MLA, APA, and CMS, the three major standards for scholarly writing, ALL say that 1 space is correct.

Again, most people use 2 spaces because their public school typing teacher told them to use 2 spaces. I had typing in middle and high school. Both teachers told me to use 2 spaces, and both of them were idiots who had the most brain dead jobs on campus.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
I've used 2 spaces since high school when I was taught. There is no way I could not put two spaces now.

QFT...typing class 1968, taught period, space, space at the end of a sentence. I KNOW that today's standard is perios, space, but I've done it this way for so long, I can't break the habit...AND, every typing test I take, I get dinged for the double space...

 

[BillyBatson]

wwhat the hell are you guys serious!? it is period space. that is it! i have NEVER heard of 2 spaces, i have never seen or heard it taught in school, never seen anyone do it, and never read anything with 2 spaces! even on my cellphone when i am txting i sometimes accidentally space space but i always end up hitting back

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: BD2003
Absolutely period space space. Regardless of whether or not it's *needed*, it enhances flow. It makes it easier to tell commas from periods. It allows you to distinguish between ends of sentences and abbreviations.

So, you can't read ATOT very well, I suppose. Because Anandtech parses the second space. You must be so horrified by this experience that you won't stay here for long. Opps. 7 years. Must not be that bad then.

Ownage.

 

[archcommus]

Most of the links people have been providing say that one is fine and two is okay too. In other words, even the pro's don't give a fvck like all the losers on AT.

I KID, I KID.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Paperdoc
I gotta disagree with many of you! The original rule was period - space. That was in the days of monospaced type on a mechanical typewriter, and the space was exactly the same width as any letter. But with the proportional spacing used in most fonts on computers now, the width of a blank space is only about half the average letter. And on top of that, the width of the period also is small. So period - space looks to me like too little space between the last letter and the first letter (of successive sentences) and I prefer the look of period - space - space.

In case you haven't noticed, Anandtech doesn't show that extra space you're using, so you're wasting your time.

Thank you and have a nice day.

 

[archcommus]

In addition to my post above, I do agree that two spaces just looks better. It's more natural for sentences to have more space between them than words do. I realize that AT forums cut out that second space, and I also realize that it indeed looks worse and more cluttered than say a term paper I write. And the rules say that either is fine, so I will stick to my habit.

 

[91TTZ]

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.

Wow.

For someone that seems to be so wound up about punctuation and the double spacing (which Anandtech doesn't display anyway), you sure seem to neglect just about every other rule of grammar. Didn't anyone ever teach you about capitalization?

You have poor grammar and you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.

 

[B00ne]

Wow I guess I am really old, but when I was in school I learned writing with an ink pen.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: B00ne
Wow I guess I am really old, but when I was in school I learned writing with an ink pen.

yeah, with a feather!

 

[Bill Brasky]

Generally, I use period space space on graded works simply because the graders are older and that is their custom. For informal writing, period space works just fine.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

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.

Wow.

For someone that seems to be so wound up about punctuation and the double spacing (which Anandtech doesn't display anyway), you sure seem to neglect just about every other rule of grammar. Didn't anyone ever teach you about capitalization?

You have poor grammar and you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.

i don't capitalize anything other than the G in God's name. unless i'm writing a formal letter, i don't use capital letters.

seeing how i have very good grammar, i'm going to have to assume that your definition of grammar somehow lumps in with capitalization.

 

[SmoochyTX]

period space space

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

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.

Wow.

For someone that seems to be so wound up about punctuation and the double spacing (which Anandtech doesn't display anyway), you sure seem to neglect just about every other rule of grammar. Didn't anyone ever teach you about capitalization?

You have poor grammar and you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.

i don't capitalize anything other than the G in God's name. unless i'm writing a formal letter, i don't use capital letters.

seeing how i have very good grammar, i'm going to have to assume that your definition of grammar somehow lumps in with capitalization.

God, you're an idiot.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: preslove

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

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.

Wow.

For someone that seems to be so wound up about punctuation and the double spacing (which Anandtech doesn't display anyway), you sure seem to neglect just about every other rule of grammar. Didn't anyone ever teach you about capitalization?

You have poor grammar and you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.

i don't capitalize anything other than the G in God's name. unless i'm writing a formal letter, i don't use capital letters.

seeing how i have very good grammar, i'm going to have to assume that your definition of grammar somehow lumps in with capitalization.

God, you're an idiot.

convincing and intelligent argument, but i think i'll disagree.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: preslove

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

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.

Wow.

For someone that seems to be so wound up about punctuation and the double spacing (which Anandtech doesn't display anyway), you sure seem to neglect just about every other rule of grammar. Didn't anyone ever teach you about capitalization?

You have poor grammar and you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.

i don't capitalize anything other than the G in God's name. unless i'm writing a formal letter, i don't use capital letters.

seeing how i have very good grammar, i'm going to have to assume that your definition of grammar somehow lumps in with capitalization.

God, you're an idiot.

convincing and intelligent argument, but i think i'll disagree.

Again, the FACTS are against you. A simple google search (see link below) proves you wrong.

Originally posted by: preslove

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: sash1
i learned two spaces way back in the day. i don't know anyone who uses two spaces anymore. i just think it looks bad, and i've gotten so used to just using one space.

i can't believe the poll, do that many people actually double space after a period still? because no one is doing it in this thread.

apparently, you don't know most of the properly educated people, then.

Please stfu, you freaking idiot. You have provided no proof for your obstinant, antiquated beliefs. Publishers and copy editors are the ones who make these standards, and their standard is ONE SPACE. The reason why most people say 2 spaces is because their middle or high school teacher told them to. These people don't make the standards. You are the uneducated moron, not the rest of us. You're just too stupid to realize this fact.

I was taught in a very good school (referencing you're pretentious statement about good schools teaching 2 spaces) that an intelligent person must take different sources and compare their validity, choose the more credible sources, then reference those sources in the body of their writing. You have done none of these because you are stupid.


The following posters are intelligent:

Originally posted by: misle
Period Space FTW!

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

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

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
oh for christ sake.

pick up a book. one space.
pick up a newspaper. one space.
pick up your bank statement. one space.
pick up a research article printed in an academic journal. one space.
HTML doesn't even recognize two spaces.

and no, the word processor does not "correct" it to two spaces. there would be no way for the processor to tell the difference between an abbreviation and the end of a sentance. what it does correct for is missed capital letters, but that doesn't affect the spacing.

that two space crap is a hold-over from the type-writer days and any school still teaching it needs to take their heads out of their buttholes and smell the silicon.

but i guess if a few ATOT mouth-breathers can't read english without arbitrary aids (do you guys need "big text," too?), then the world's professional writing community must be wrong.

I love how absolutely none of the pro-double space crowd has provided a single link for justification. As another poster pointed out, A simple google search tells you that 1 space is the standard. The MLA, APA, and CMS, the three major standards for scholarly writing, ALL say that 1 space is correct.

Again, most people use 2 spaces because their public school typing teacher told them to use 2 spaces. I had typing in middle and high school. Both teachers told me to use 2 spaces, and both of them were idiots who had the most brain dead jobs on campus.

 

[secretanchitman]

i HATE double spaces after periods. period. i do NOT understand why people put them. its one space after a period ONLY.

thank you.

/thread.

 

[Fenixgoon]

2 spaces!

 

[pennylane]

2 spaces. It's what I was taught and I think it looks nicer.

 

[Kelemvor]

You're supposed to use 2 spaces but msot peopel today have never taking a typing course, ain't gots good grammar, etc so they have no idea.

 

[dafatha00]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

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.

Wow.

For someone that seems to be so wound up about punctuation and the double spacing (which Anandtech doesn't display anyway), you sure seem to neglect just about every other rule of grammar. Didn't anyone ever teach you about capitalization?

You have poor grammar and you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.

QFT