How many spaces do you put after a period (full stop)?

[chown33]

Originally Posted by jessica.

4? Dude where?

It just ends up that way sometimes. I write mostly in plain text, or in a programming language. Sometimes smart-paste will add a space, while plain-paste won't. So sometimes I do "space cmd-V", others "cmd-V" space", or "space cmd-V" space". And sometimes I just fat-thumb the spacebar.

As I said, I don't worry about it much. When I do care, search-and-replace is ready and waiting. And if I bungle search-and-replace, undo is ready for that.

[Rob.G]

I took a year-long typing/business class in high school and we were taught to use two spaces. Here in forums and stuff, though, browsers won't render multiple consecutive spaces unless you use the "nbsp" tag (which starts with & and ends with ; rather than quotes).

Rob

[SkyBell]

I don't believe I've ever heard of using two spaces, but I can see the advantage to doing so. Always have used one, doubt that'll ever change.

[184550]

I always do two spaces. I don't recall when or how I learned this/ got in the habit but I do remember a classmate in undergrad getting reprimanded by the professor for only doing one space in a paper.

[pivo6]

After reading one of the front page articles, I'm replacing all periods with commas. When I do need to end a sentence, I use 1 space after a period. I also wear reading glasses.

[snberk103]

Originally Posted by Nermal

Is that in case the full stop and following capital letter aren't obvious enough?

Sometimes the names of modern things make it difficult. iPhones are one example. iMacs are another example. Hee Hee

[eawmp1]

I was (on these old fashioned typewriter things) 2 spaces. Mocked by my kids so I begrudgingly gave up one of them.

[Scepticalscribe]

Originally Posted by eawmp1

I was (on these old fashioned typewriter things) 2 spaces. Mocked by my kids so I begrudgingly gave up one of them.

Ah, but what do kids know about grammar, spacing, syntax and stuff such as how to write English correctly?

I'll happily heed what kids have to say about topics such as technology, I may even incline my head - briefly - a token nod towards what they think about arcane matters such as fashion, but the day I take lessons from kids on how to write English has yet to come.

[eawmp1]

Originally Posted by Scepticalscribe

Ah, but what do kids know about grammar, spacing, syntax and stuff such as how to write English correctly?

I'll happily heed what kids have to say about topics such as technology, I may even incline my head - briefly - a token nod towards what they think about arcane matters such as fashion, but the day I take lessons from kids on how to write English has yet to come.

Did you pay attention to the (poor) pronoun reference? I gave up a kid for his insolence.

[Scepticalscribe]

Originally Posted by eawmp1

Did you pay attention to the (poor) pronoun reference? I gave up a kid for his insolence.

I did. (But he's your kid, and possessive pronouns trump other considerations in a discussion of this sort).

However, methinks that a feel for syntax, along with the sort of palate that can learn to appreciate good red wine, coffee, and cognac are the sort of acquired tastes that a lack of age and experience will long deny the very young.

[wrosie]

'twas two spaces after a period at the end of a sentence back in the days of typewriters and Courier type. However, now that we have word processors and proportional type, one space is fine.

[LotusLord]

One space. I never took a typing class on a typewriter. My wife however says that when she was taught on a computer (she's a year younger than I am, and went to school in a more wealthy school district), to do two spaces.

[zioxide]

Well, in the writing courses I took in college, which was only a few years ago, they still taught 2 spaces between sentences. So, for formal documents, 2 spaces.

On the internet (forums and social networks) I usually only use one though. Sometimes two just because it's kind of a habit while typing now, though most websites will only render one space in HTML anyways.

[mobilehaathi]

Two spaces. Anything else is uncivilized.

[Mr. McMac]

one space for one space cadet

[r.j.s]

AP Style says one to save space, so that's what I use.

[jessica.]

Look who is back.

[r.j.s]

Originally Posted by jessica.

Look who is back.

Who?

[Vader]

I always use two. I find myself going back through text messages and deleting that second space to squeeze in a few more characters at the end.

Edit: Looks like the forum software automatically trims them down to one space, how rude!
(It shows up as two spaces in the edit though, so my original 2 space content was preserved, it must just change it when it is displayed)

[r.j.s]

Originally Posted by Vader

I always use two. I find myself going back through text messages and deleting that second space to squeeze in a few more characters at the end.

Edit: Looks like the forum software automatically trims them down to one space, how rude!
(It shows up as two spaces in the edit though, so my original 2 space content was preserved, it must just change it when it is displayed)

Maybe you should just start using one ...

[LV426]

Typing two spaces on the web won't get you very far, because browsers typically render multiple spaces as a single space. Unless you go to some effort.

FYI, screenplays should always be submitted using double spaces after a full stop, for traditional reasons.