How many spaces after a period?

[macquariumguy]

If you're using a typewriter, two.

If you're using a computer, one.

That was easy.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If you're using a typewriter, two.

If you're using a computer, one.

That was easy.

No.

Not when your mind was used to "two" - and the idea of a wall of text offering hints, breathing spaces, and sign posts as to where to draw breath en route.

I like the sight of a pause when reading. Semi-colons, commas, dashes, colons - all offer this, but I am still a slave to the idea of the full stop ('period' to our Transatlantic Cousins).

And, if I could impose the universal use of Garamond by decree, diktat, or statutory instrument, my soul would have been sold. Long ago.

 

[Efrem]

I'm one of those rare people who did some typesetting (movable metal type, back when "leading" between lines actually meant putting in thin lead strips) before learning to touch-type. To me, a single space is natural; I had to break my existing habits for proper typing.

That said, I am amazed at how many posters in this thread justify using two spaces by saying "that's the way I learned to do it with a typewriter." So what? You're not using a typewriter; you're using a computer. You don't put hard returns at the end of a line when you hear a bell ring, do you? You probably don't start your car by standing in front of it and turning a crank, either. The proper way to do it with today's computers and proportionately spaced fonts is one space. Stop being so lazy, join the 21st century, and relearn that old habit. If you can move from MacWrite putting in a new ruler every time a paragraph-level format changes to Word menus, toolbars and now ribbons, you can do it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'm one of those rare people who did some typesetting (movable metal type, back when "leading" between lines actually meant putting in thin lead strips) before learning to touch-type. To me, a single space is natural; I had to break my existing habits for proper typing.

That said, I am amazed at how many posters in this thread justify using two spaces by saying "that's the way I learned to do it with a typewriter." So what? You're not using a typewriter; you're using a computer. You don't put hard returns at the end of a line when you hear a bell ring, do you? You probably don't start your car by standing in front of it and turning a crank, either. The proper way to do it with today's computers and proportionately spaced fonts is one space. Stop being so lazy, join the 21st century, and relearn that old habit. If you can move from MacWrite putting in a new ruler every time a paragraph-level format changes to Word menus, toolbars and now ribbons, you can do it.

Oh, dear, the dripping tones of pooled droplets of condescension......

You know, your argument might be a little stronger, not to mention, ever so microscopically and - perhaps - slightly more persuasive, if you could forego the (admittedly delightful) joy of insulting those with whom you disagree....

And, attributing (falsely, needless to say) laziness as the motivation......no, it is not laziness, still less, inertia, but, rather a finely honed sense of aesthetics and a strong sense of how the written word ought to appear on the printed page....

Yes, I use a computer. I also use Garamond - an exquisite and extremely legible font designed in Renaissance times.

Now. If full stops - aka - "Periods" - with two spaces are delinquent in their antiquity (typewriters, and all that) how about a paragraph or two for antiquarians such as ourselves so that we can read the walls of text you write without having to squint and torture our aged and bespectacled eyes attempting to read it, condescension and all.

Paragraphs are Really Nice.

Actually, They Are Every Bit As Nice As Double Spaces, especially if you want to actually read what is written without having to squint, and peer closely, as - you know - double spaces, (and paragraphs) suggest that spaces, pauses, places to draw breath, - are indicated in the body of the text.

One can go, Whew. Mop brow. Stare at sign post (aka full stop, nice long pause, tuning fork, sign post....) and decide where to go next.....

 

[mobilehaathi]

I'm one of those rare people who did some typesetting (movable metal type, back when "leading" between lines actually meant putting in thin lead strips) before learning to touch-type. To me, a single space is natural; I had to break my existing habits for proper typing.

That said, I am amazed at how many posters in this thread justify using two spaces by saying "that's the way I learned to do it with a typewriter." So what? You're not using a typewriter; you're using a computer. You don't put hard returns at the end of a line when you hear a bell ring, do you? You probably don't start your car by standing in front of it and turning a crank, either. The proper way to do it with today's computers and proportionately spaced fonts is one space. Stop being so lazy, join the 21st century, and relearn that old habit. If you can move from MacWrite putting in a new ruler every time a paragraph-level format changes to Word menus, toolbars and now ribbons, you can do it.

You seem offended that people still use double spaces. I can't imagine why it matters to you either way.

 

[Analog Kid]

I was taught two spaces after a period, and still type that way. I don't particularly like the look of having one space after a period-- it's such a tiny indicator anyway that I find I can scan text faster with a larger break between sentences.

That said, I've read in a few places that one space is preferred and I'm pretty sure most HTML compresses everything to one space. I've proofed a few things written by one spacers and after adding a few spaces here and there realized that it wasn't just an occasional "error" and I'd now created a document with an unholy mix of standards.

 

[LizKat]

I just like two spaces for the the way it breaks up text walls and so to me makes more sense. When I saw them while reading, I knew I was at the end of a sentence, or at a natural breathing point, as @Scepticalscribe has noted.

Maybe it's my aging eyes, but I think I felt the same way when I was using a computer in my 40s. Word processors back then may or may not have offered automatic formatting with respect to end-of-sentence separations, I can't remember, but I always preferred THE LOOK of more separation at end of a sentence than there is between two words in mid-sentence. I still do, but I muddle along: what other choice is there with software that "corrects" excess white space?!

 

[lowendlinux]

I was taught two but use one.

 

[Arran]

Personally, I wish everyone used more white space. Words need room to breathe. Give them a bit more and they form communities called "paragraphs". Each with their own character. (Quaint idea, I know.)

Here's the only abuse of double spaces that irks me:

 

[arkitect]

Personally, I wish everyone used more white space. Words need room to breathe. Give them a bit more and they form communities called "paragraphs". Each with their own character. (Quaint idea, I know.)

Here's the only abuse of double spaces that irks me:

I am one hundred percent in agreement with you.

For me white space is akin to the silence in between musical phrases… a good musician knows that the stillness is as important as the sound.
The use of white space lends emphasis and elegance and, hopefully, makes a sheet of print (or a screen) a thing of beauty (and easier to read and digest).
[doublepost=1494847063][/doublepost]

Yes, I use a computer. I also use Garamond - an exquisite and extremely eligible font designed in Renaissance times.

My first encounter with Garamond was at my first job at an architects' firm.
That was the house typeface.

Of course, no computers back then, and we had to rub lettering down with Letraset transfer sheets… oh the agony of constructing a missing character from the leftovers.

In that office is where I started to love type and the beauty of a lovely sheet layout.

When you do things by hand you pay attention to more than just the spelling of the text.

Nowadays I still construct the titles of my ink wash drawings by hand… and once you go there, everything counts.

Here's a C laid out (and that is about 20mm high). A variant of the Trajan's Column inscription. Though lately I have been trying out a variant of the Romain du Roi.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I am one hundred percent in agreement with you.

For me white space is akin to the silence in between musical phrases… a good musician knows that the stillness is as important as the sound.
The use of white space lends emphasis and elegance and, hopefully, makes a sheet of print (or a screen) a thing of beauty (and easier to read and digest).
[doublepost=1494847063][/doublepost]
My first encounter with Garamond was at my first job at an architects' firm.
That was the house typeface.

Of course, no computers back then, and we had to rub lettering down with Letraset transfer sheets… oh the agony of constructing a missing character from the leftovers.

In that office is where I started to love type and the beauty of a lovely sheet layout.

When you do things by hand you pay attention to more than just the spelling of the text.

Nowadays I still construct the titles of my ink wash drawings by hand… and once you go there, everything counts.

Here's a C laid out (and that is about 20mm high). A variant of the Trajan's Column inscription. Though lately I have been trying out a variant of the Romain du Roi.

View attachment 699747

If the gods of democracy were ever to entrust me with a deranged and disturbing degree of absolute (or, even constitutionally constrained) power, I fear the world would come to appreciate Garamond a lot more.

Actually, it is the font I arranged to have inscribed on my father's headstone, (where it looks superb) and it is such a beautifully balanced and elegant and classy font.

Agree entirely about the beauty of a lovely sheet layout - and, if you inculcate an appreciation of beauty in your society or office, that also encourages an environment where aesthetic appreciation is acknowledged and applauded but where respect - as a value and a currency - also becomes embedded in the wider culture.

 

[Huntn]

I just like two spaces for the the way it breaks up text walls and so to me makes more sense. When I saw them while reading, I knew I was at the end of a sentence, or at a natural breathing point, as @Scepticalscribe has noted.

Maybe it's my aging eyes, but I think I felt the same way when I was using a computer in my 40s. Word processors back then may or may not have offered automatic formatting with respect to end-of-sentence separations, I can't remember, but I always preferred THE LOOK of more separation at end of a sentence than there is between two words in mid-sentence. I still do, but I muddle along: what other choice is there with software that "corrects" excess white space?!

I find that the period followed by a space is enough for me to separate sentences. For the wall of text, I try to make liberal use of paragraphs.

If the gods of democracy were ever to entrust me with a deranged and disturbing degree of absolute (or, even constitutionally constrained) power, I fear the world would come to appreciate Garamond a lot more.

Actually, it is the font I arranged to have inscribed on my father's headstone, (where it looks superb) and it is such a beautifully balanced and elegant and classy font.

Agree entirely about the beauty of a lovely sheet layout - and, if you inculcate an appreciation of beauty in your society or office, that also encourages an environment where aesthetic appreciation is acknowledged and applauded but where respect - as a value and a currency - also becomes embedded in the wider culture.

I like Garamond for titles, but for reading and documents. I prefer cleaner san-serif fonts, specifically Helvetica and Verdana. Helvetica gets the edge for being slightly more compressed.

Helvetica​

 

[arkitect]

I like Garamond for titles, but for reading and documents. I prefer cleaner san-serif fonts, specifically Helvetica and Verdana. Helvetica gets the edge for being slightly more compressed.

​

​

That's curious. Usually serif typefaces are used for body text - easier to read with sans serif used for titles and the like.

Neue Helvetica is a lovely refinement. Though my all time favourite sans serif would have to be Gill Sans. Gorgeousness.

 

[BarracksSi]

I've always typed two spaces out of habit, learning it on electric monospace typewriters in high school like so many. But maybe I should do like I've begun to do recently and defer to the Comma Queen (and why nobody else in this thread has referenced her already, I don't know):

An aside:

The printed examples she uses also show what they call "rivers" of white space between words. This is from center-justifying the text so it reaches to both sides of the column (as opposed to left-justified like you see in forum posts). These are another broad "What to do about?" topic in typography.
http://www.halfbakery.com/lr/idea/River_20control

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I find that the period followed by a space is enough for me to separate sentences. For the wall of text, I try to make liberal use of paragraphs.



I like Garamond for titles, but for reading and documents. I prefer cleaner san-serif fonts, specifically Helvetica and Verdana. Helvetica gets the edge for being slightly more compressed.

Actually, it is the compression of Helvetica that I don't like (hence I prefer Verdana to Helvetica, but far prefer Arno Pro to either); I loathe Arial (again, precisely on account of the compression and the fact that it is an ugly font, used, I suspect simply because it is the first available font - alphabetically - headed, as it is, with the letter "a"), quite like Times New Roman, and love Garamond.

Candidly, as @arkitect has already pointed out, I am somewhat surprised that you prefer fonts other than Garamond for text; this is because Garamond is extraordinarily legible, and - to my strained eyes - is very easy and relaxing to read.

​

That's curious. Usually serif typefaces are used for body text - easier to read with sans serif used for titles and the like.

Neue Helvetica is a lovely refinement. Though my all time favourite sans serif would have to be Gill Sans. Gorgeousness.

Agreed.
[doublepost=1494868175][/doublepost]

An aside:

The printed examples she uses also show what they call "rivers" of white space between words. This is from center-justifying the text so it reaches to both sides of the column (as opposed to left-justified like you see in forum posts). These are another broad "What to do about?" topic in typography.
http://www.halfbakery.com/lr/idea/River_20control

When writing anything for a printed hard copy, I use justified; and I suppose that I am something of a fan of what you have termed of 'rivers' white space between words.

 

[Analog Kid]

I find that the period followed by a space is enough for me to separate sentences. For the wall of text, I try to make liberal use of paragraphs.

Yay, I get to make another XKCD reference:

[doublepost=1494870817][/doublepost]

When you do things by hand you pay attention to more than just the spelling of the text.

Nowadays I still construct the titles of my ink wash drawings by hand… and once you go there, everything counts.

When you do things by hand it may very well lead you to revolutionize the computer industry!

 

[Huntn]

​

That's curious. Usually serif typefaces are used for body text - easier to read with sans serif used for titles and the like.

Neue Helvetica is a lovely refinement. Though my all time favourite sans serif would have to be Gill Sans. Gorgeousness.

I'm a curious person. Remove the curlies and it is cleaner to look at, easier to read at least for me. The serifs serve to make the type fancier, imo more difficult to read, but not asking you to agree. I like Neue Helvetica too!
[doublepost=1494892214][/doublepost]

Actually, it is the compression of Helvetica that I don't like (hence I prefer Verdana to Helvetica, but far prefer Arno Pro to either); I loathe Arial (again, precisely on account of the compression and the fact that it is an ugly find, used, I suspect simply because it is the first available font - alphabetically - headed, as it is, with the letter "a"), quite like Times New Roman, and love Garamond.

Candidly, as @arkitect has already pointed out, I am somewhat surprised that you prefer fonts other than Garamond for text; this is because Garamond is extraordinarily legible, and - to my strained eyes - is very easy and relaxing to read.



Agreed.
[doublepost=1494868175][/doublepost]

When writing anything for a printed hard copy, I use justified; and I suppose that I am something of a fan of what you have termed of 'rivers' white space between words.

I can't explain it, maybe it's how my brain works, seriously. For me cleaner is easier to read especially for small type that I infrequently look at on my phone. I really dislike serif fonts for the body of text.