Single or Double Space After A Period

[darklord700]

Should we single or double space after a period or sentence? I've always used or been taught to use double space but now I read it should be single space. Which one is right?

[RougeUnderoos]

Single.

Double-spacing comes from when the world was in black and white, and they used typewriters. I think it was a plot by the paper conglomerates to force people to use more paper.

But for real, it's single now.

[nik-]

I use double.

[FlamesAddiction]

I always use double space, but I noticed WP at the company I work for does single space. It's hard to get out of the habit though.

[MarchHare]

On a typewriter or a computer while using a mono-spaced font: double-space.
On a computer while using a proportionally-spaced font: single-space.

[CaptainYooh]

Always double. Just looks better in a body of text.

[Muta]

I edit hundreds of write-ups a year, and the two space thing annoys the piss out of me.

It's single space, and it has been for a long time now.

[Kerplunk]

Single space. Not only does double space look odd, but it's an extra keystroke that I'm too lazy to perform.

[pseudoreality]

Both are acceptable. I was originally taught double and continue to do so. It is a throw back to typewriters as is the layout of the key board, but in my opinion its neater and easier to read. From what I can tell kids who grew up with only computers use single while old farts that took typing in school use double.

[bc-chris]

i've always gone double.... but i'm pretty sure it's supposed to be single now

i think some programs automatically change it to single, even if you use double

[photon]

I think the browsers even changes it to single if you use double. Checking to see.

EDIT: Yup, I put a double space but it only shows single.

[Bobblehead]

Double space was for typewritten copy. With computers and their fonts you only use a single space since most common fonts adjust space proportionally.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/...article621826/

[Scoopdogg]

Man where have I been. I've always used double and have never even heard of this new age single spacing you are talking about. Well, you can't teach an old dog new tricks so double spacing it is for me.

[Bigtime]

Single space. We did learn double in high school computer class though.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by pseudoreality

Both are acceptable.

Not true. Both the Chicago Manual of Style and the AMA Manual of Style (the two biggest authorities on this subject) state that one space is correct and two spaces is wrong. The debate is over. Anyone who still insists on using two spaces is a holdover from the typewriter era.

[fredr123]

http://www.slate.com/articles/techno..._invaders.html
http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/10/style
http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/two-spaces-after-period/
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/...paceorTwo.html
http://typographyforlawyers.com/one-...sentences.html

[Chill Cosby]

Single spacing is correct.

Double spacing is wrong.

That said, plenty of people will continue to double space until they die and being wrong in this instance isn't a detriment to society, it's just annoying.

[nik-]

How is an extra millimetre so annoying to people? I mean really.

[Imported_Aussie]

It is a relatively minor issue, is it technically right now with modern work processor software and modern fonts to double space? No. However, in common usage, the only thing that will draw attention/criticism is a lack of consistency. Then the reader will notice something is amiss, and it will reflect negatively on the author.
When you talk about Chicago style, MLA, you are talking about academic writing moreso - in common usage, no one is holding your writing up to those styles.

[Nehkara]

I am a Medical Transcriptionist/Medical Editor and work for AHS. We are taught to double space because it makes reports much easier to read.