I know that you are supposed to put one space after a period if you are using a word processor, and two spaces if you are using a typewriter. But this doesn’t make sense. A space on a typewriter is wider than a space on a word processor (though it depends on the font you are using.). So, why would you put two spaces on typewriters?
Spaces After Period
June 12th, 2003 by dyske
56 Responses to “Spaces After Period”
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I'm sorry for all of you one-spacers. You seem to completely be ignoring the fact that the world isn't solely comprised of proportional fonts. Monospaced fonts are still used far and wide, especially in every day computer system administration and programming. Riddle me this, why is it that my HTML rendered email still honors the two spaces, but my browser doesn't? This debate is likely to rage on for quite a while, but I will continue to default to two spaces except for when I want to be artsy-fartsy. Modern typesetting systems (LaTex) can automatically deal with this issue either direction you want to force it. Editors that complain about fixing the two-spacers "mistakes" should talk to their typesetters (or themselves) about the options within their software.
Has anyone noticed that on this very website, the absence of doublespacing is occasionally quite jarring? Depending on the exact combination of letters, it sometimes appears as if there's no space at all after the period, especially with tall and straight, or bottom-heavy letters. For example, Y's and T's look ok, but S's, I's, or H's almost seem like they're as close the the letter preceding the period as they are to the 2nd following letter, as if there's no space at all after the period. I don't know if this will work, but look at, say, …car. Illogic… It almost seems like the I is the same distance from the r as it is from the second l, as if it's all one word separated by a period.
Yes, if you look at it, the base of the r is the same distance from the period as the I is. If I had used a letter wider than l, my point would have been even more obvious.
Two observations:
1. This thread has lasted over six years!
2. I am a double-spacer at heart, but – people! – notice that this very blog page converts everything to single spacing. Q.E.D., baby! A new age has dawned.
I got a lot out of this discussion. I'm a 2-spacer and have been doing it so long that it doesn't slow me down to hit that key twice instead of once. I do it automatically even when I know the extra space will be remove, e.g., in this post.
I found a great article on the readability factor of 2 spaces at http://roselli.org/adrian/articles/2spaces.asp.
Clearly, newspaper columns and paperback books need to conserve space and need to use 1 space. I write in 8.5×11 where it's not an issue. I too use 1" margins instead of MS's default, which probably gains me more than eliminating my extra space. I'm all about white space, but JUDICIOUS use of white space. (Admittedly it's somewhat of an art to white space wisely.)
And while I'm on the subject, why did MS Word's Normal Style go from TNR 10 (too small) to TNR 12 (too big) instead of TNR 11 (just right)??? I always customize my default to TNR 11.
Several people have provided examples of where that extra space is really needed for the meaning of the writing to be clear. I think it would be GREAT if we had a new character for the full stop so we could end this argument, which — as shown above — can get downright nasty. Maybe we can get a referendum going. In the meantime, please be kind to each other.
Chicago Manual of Style says one space:
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/CMS_FAQ/OneSpaceorTwo/OneSpaceorTwo_questions01.html
The visual appeal you might find from double spaces after periods, colons, etc., is merely a visual holdover from your youth when you were taught on the typewriter. There is no visual appeal for computer systems that are using variable width fonts and that adjust fonts for various layout appeal issues.
Unless you type in a monospaced font like Courier or use a metal press (as I still get to do sometimes). Then by golly, use double spaces.
But if you hand your copy over to a designer to design with a computer, he will gleefully do a search and replace on the double spaces before publishing your copy.
Your best bet for your Manifesto that will be found by the police after your arrest is double spacing after periods. Or if you’re a screenwriter, where the norm is to type in a monotype font.
As someone who works on a computer continually, I save myself from early carpal tunnel syndrome by saving thousands of keystrokes a day.