Posted on 03/27/2011 5:42:59 PM PDT by Yardstick
Can I let you in on a secret? Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.
And yet people who use two spaces are everywhere, their ugly error crossing every social boundary of class, education, and taste.[snip]
What galls me about two-spacers isn't just their numbers. It's their certainty that they're right. Over Thanksgiving dinner last year, I asked people what they considered to be the "correct" number of spaces between sentences. The diners included doctors, computer programmers, and other highly accomplished professionals. Everyone—everyone!—said it was proper to use two spaces. Some people admitted to slipping sometimes and using a single space—but when writing something formal, they were always careful to use two. Others explained they mostly used a single space but felt guilty for violating the two-space "rule." Still others said they used two spaces all the time, and they were thrilled to be so proper. When I pointed out that they were doing it wrong—that, in fact, the correct way to end a sentence is with a period followed by a single, proud, beautiful space—the table balked. "Who says two spaces is wrong?" they wanted to know.
Typographers, that's who. The people who study and design the typewritten word decided long ago that we should use one space, not two, between sentences. That convention was not arrived at casually.[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
The Constitution is quite clear - it offers no protection for Two Spacers who deserve to be locked up forever in Gitmo. I mean consider the number of extra trees that need to be cut own to support this evil practice. I also recommend that we fund a few thousand Space Police and immediately initiate a War on Two Spacers.
Keep it up. The grunts get paid to take them out.
Throw favorite fonts into the mix and you can really open up the discussion.
In space, no one can hear you scream.
Period.
When was the last time you used a typewriter? It was correct then, but that was then, this is now. See my previous reply to Matt for the technical reasons why.
Single space after the period. This is common sense in the word processor world, just as italicized sources are normal now instead of underlined ones.
If this is truely important to you, may I suggest;
.....GET A LIFE !!
Q: What’s the difference between Courtney Love and a pro hockey player?
A: A pro hockey player showers after three periods.
I tried to read the article, but couldn’t read it because it was too cluttered. It appears the author was illiterate regarding proper punctuation and spacing.
I use three, sometimes 4- just to be sure.
I think the practice has changed in recent years.
Typesetting has changed, of course, with computer programs now being used to set up the type. And instead of sending hard copy to the author for proofreading, they email it in electronic form, and you email it back to them.
In earlier years, double spacing after the period ending a sentence was the standard practice. I think that is less the case now. I’ve published six books and numerous articles. I’m afraid I don’t remember when the practice changed from one to the other, but I think that single space has replaced the old double space in most instances.
I’m not sure if that’s universally true, though.
So this is worth a column in Slate? Typists used 2 spaces. Typographers use 1 space. No one else cares.
Actually, less than a year ago, if you can believe it!
WhoneedsANYsteenkin’spaces?TheheckwithsavingWhales-Savethespaces!
You are not alone. My high school typing class was split into two sections. The first section dealt with typing basics on a massive IBM Selectric. The second section consisted of using word processing software. I do use single spacing for publications at work because it is the workplace style. Still, I have to fight the urge to strike the space bar twice after each period. All of my academic work has been done with double spacing.
I won’t get much sleep tonight grappling with this matter.
As a somewhat related side note, it was the use of variable spaced typefaces in a letter dated 1972 that led FReeper buckhead to question the CBS letter about Bush’s Air National Guard service. Variable spacing from a practical perspective simply didn’t exist in typewriters of the era. One thing led to another, and Dan Rather resigned. Good riddance.
Seriously. One space, two spaces, Popeyes, KFC. Gonna be a long night...
That's true, but the correct term is "typefaces," not "fonts."
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