Single or Double Space After A Period

[EverfresH15]

I cant believe this argument has last 3 pages. Who cares!

[Barnes]

Single space. I learned double and it took a lot of effort to stop. Also, stop underlining text. It's not a typewriter.

There is zero evidence that either single or double spacing improves readability or legibility. The standard for newspapers, magazines, texts, and the Internet is single. The thing that negatively affects readability and legibility the most is the use of non traditional typography conventions like double spacing.

Do it or don't but it's not standard. Write in upside down comic sans for all I care...

[flylock shox]

Until the Brits weigh in on this issue, I consider it unresolved: American sources should hold no authority on the English language or the rules of typing it.

On a related note, when did it become acceptable to put periods outside of quotation marks, as in:

"Dude," she said, "that is one ugly cow".

I find it useful at times, but it was recent news to me along with this single spacing thing. I expect it's a hipster thing.

[Harry Lime]

The only time that I see single spaced used and it doesn't seem out of place is when it is used in specialized fields that require it. Double spacing improves readability. I never knew that there was a movement toward single spacing. It seems as though it is one of those things that has come around for the sole reason that people are getting lazier, and communication is collapsing in terms of depth and impact. A single spaced paragraph looks like a massive run-on sentence to me, and if it's of any length, I'll skim it mercilessly, and judge the content harshly believing it subconsciously to be of less intelligent value due to the laziness of it's formatting.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by simmonjam1

Now we'll have single-space nazis on here to go with the grammar nazis.

No, because the forum software corrects it for you to one space. See. Only one space. No matter how many I type.

[Ashartus]

I learned double-space on a typewriter, but even way back when I started working all the style guides were saying single-space, which was also my employer's policy, so I re-trained myself. My current employer has a policy of double-space but I refuse to comply.

If the text is unjustified then double-space can still look ok, but if you use full justification it can look horrible with huge gaps.

[Igster]

It's double space. Anyone who says single space is just wrong.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Single space. I learned double and it took a lot of effort to stop. Also, stop underlining text. It's not a typewriter.

There is zero evidence that either single or double spacing improves readability or legibility. The standard for newspapers, magazines, texts, and the Internet is single. The thing that negatively affects readability and legibility the most is the use of non traditional typography conventions like double spacing.

Do it or don't but it's not standard. Write in upside down comic sans for all I care...

˙˙˙ǝlqᴉssod s,ʇɐɥʇ ɟᴉ ɹǝpuoʍ I

EDIT: I guess not, upside down characters in Comic Sans don't look Comic Sans!

EDIT2: Oh, I guess some of them are. Making it bigger helps see the difference.

[chemgear]

Wow, 4 pages!

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Barnes

No, because the forum software corrects it for you to one space. See. Only one space. No matter how many I type.

This is true! I just read my earlier comment, and was seriously irritated with myself. My beautiful spacing was gone, and I judged myself harshly in it's absence.

[firebug]

Some topics in this book will offer you choices. Not this one.
Always put exactly one space between sentences.
Or more generally: put exactly one space after any punctuation.

Highly recommended: http://practicaltypography.com/

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Barnes

No, because the forum software corrects it for you to one space. See. Only one space. No matter how many I type.

Again, the forum software has nothing to do with this. It's how web browsers work. If you edit your post, all of the extra spaces are still there.

[bizaro86]

I'm amused by the "my employer mandates it because it's easier to read" stuff. Assuming you're typing on a computer, and using a proportionally spaced font (both pretty likely, imo), that's factually incorrect. We produced a technical document recently, and half was single space half was double space. That correlated exactly with the age of the people doing the typing.

[polak]

I didn't even know double-spacing after a period was a thing.

In 12 years of grade school and 4 years of University, not once did I ever hear about anyone double-spacing after a period. I'm floored right now.

[photon]

Originally Posted by firebug

Highly recommended: http://practicaltypography.com/

Is it just me or is the line spacing off on the bullet points, the spacing between the first and second line looks bigger than the rest.

If true, I cannot take anything the site says seriously!!

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by psycnet

you're typing teacher should be shot.

fyp

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by photon

...
If true, I cannot take anything the site says seriously!!

I didn't take it seriously the moment I read his last name.

P.S. "Eats Shoots and Leaves" is a really good book for those who enjoys being a Grammar Nazi.

[troutman]

" Physical objects are not in space, but these objects are spatially extended. In this way the concept “empty space” loses its meaning. " Albert E.

[Igster]

Folks...You put a single space between words in a sentence. Why would you only put a single space between sentences? Think about that for a second.

[photon]

Lol I checked in an image editor, and there's one extra pixel between the first and second lines than between the second and third lines. And there's one fewer pixels between the third and forth lines than between the second and third lines.