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General Discussion => Essentially Flyertalk => Topic started by: michigancat on January 19, 2011, 06:53:27 PM

Title: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: michigancat on January 19, 2011, 06:53:27 PM
I've always been a two space guy, but now I feel like a putz. It's like, really hard to change.

STORY:

http://www.slate.com/id/2281146
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Tobias on January 19, 2011, 06:58:24 PM
I use Courier.  I don't get the big deal?  :dunno:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Catchacold on January 19, 2011, 06:59:38 PM
 :horrorsurprise:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: michigancat on January 19, 2011, 07:01:38 PM
I wonder how much data has been wasted by extra spaces after periods? I'll bet quite a bit.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: felix rex on January 19, 2011, 07:08:53 PM
Was two spaces all the way through grad school for. Same at the law firm I first worked at. But gov/military writing is strictly one space. It was really hard to get used to.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: CNS on January 19, 2011, 07:10:51 PM
Prof Freidman says that two spaces is correct.  Typographers can suck a dick.

Two spaces FTW.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: michigancat on January 19, 2011, 07:13:34 PM
Prof Freidman says that two spaces is correct.

But why? :dunno:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Tobias on January 19, 2011, 07:13:58 PM
My little sister tried springing this single space propaganda on me.  I thought it was some sort of bullshit graphic design Kool-Aid she was drinking - like making every web page an image map .gif.  I'm taking two spaces with me to the god damned grave.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: felix rex on January 19, 2011, 07:17:26 PM
I'm a full-blown one-space convert. I never liked the two spaces. Seemed like a waste of space. One space was a revelation.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Tobias on January 19, 2011, 07:17:58 PM
Quote from: Farhad Manjoo
Every modern typographer agrees on the one-space rule.

C'mon, "Farhad" - you gonna give me some statistics on what unicorns think about proper hyphenation?  :flush:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: CNS on January 19, 2011, 07:28:26 PM
Prof Freidman says that two spaces is correct.

But why? :dunno:

Visual designation. 

My eighth grade typing teacher sides with Freidman as well. 
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: michigancat on January 19, 2011, 07:31:49 PM
Prof Freidman says that two spaces is correct.

But why? :dunno:

Visual designation. 

My eighth grade typing teacher sides with Freidman as well. 

Did you read that article? Did you really notice how many spaces were after the periods?
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: CNS on January 19, 2011, 07:32:51 PM
Prof Freidman says that two spaces is correct.

But why? :dunno:

Visual designation. 

My eighth grade typing teacher sides with Freidman as well. 

Did you read that article? Did you really notice how many spaces were after the periods?

Made me crazy.

Also, it is a bigger deal with diff fonts.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Dirty Sanchez on January 19, 2011, 07:53:24 PM
Prof Freidman says that two spaces is correct.

But why? :dunno:

Don't doubt professors.  They're smarter than us.  Its science.  The debate is over.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: pissclams on January 19, 2011, 07:54:23 PM
way too long, way too few spaces after periods, and guess what else?

(https://goemaw.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2FgoEMAW.com%2Fforum%2FSmileys%2FgoEMAW%2FDNR.gif&hash=36b51e51032a2ea2f756e59886eba3a473047c0b)
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: ew2x4 on January 19, 2011, 08:18:46 PM
One space or bust.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: j rake on January 19, 2011, 08:36:08 PM
It should be one space after a period — period.

The only reason why some people, particularly older people, use two spaces after a period is because they grew up using typewriters. Your computer teachers in middle school also probably taught you the typewriter method since that's all they knew.

Typewriters had what were called "monospaced" fonts, meaning that every character takes up the same amount of space. Since all characters were the same width, you needed two spaces after periods to help break up your sentences.

With computers, each character has a different width. The W is considerably wider than the I, the m is wider than the l, and so on. Therefore there is no longer a need for the extra space after periods.

(https://goemaw.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffc00.deviantart.net%2Ffs35%2Ff%2F2008%2F301%2F8%2F8%2FEinstein_Emoticon_by_housewave.gif&hash=b4d666697cb7657ca69b89036671095d70ad81a8)
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 19, 2011, 08:39:10 PM
I always increase spaces between characters, teachers never check for that.  I will continue to use two periods in my papers too, any thing to meet the minimum page thing.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Ghost of Stan Parrish on January 19, 2011, 08:39:33 PM
:horrorsurprise:

 :horrorsurprise:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: j rake on January 19, 2011, 08:50:50 PM
I always increase spaces between characters, teachers never check for that.  I will continue to use two periods in my papers too, any thing to meet the minimum page thing.

Wait, I thought you were Saul?

Also, it is doubtful the extra spaces amount to much.
You are better off using lots of paragraphs and increasing margins.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: hemmy on January 19, 2011, 08:56:20 PM
I read about the whole type writer thing a long time ago, but 2 spaces makes it easier to quickly distinguish ends of sentences.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 19, 2011, 09:19:17 PM
I always increase spaces between characters, teachers never check for that.  I will continue to use two periods in my papers too, any thing to meet the minimum page thing.

Wait, I thought you were Saul?

Also, it is doubtful the extra spaces amount to much.
You are better off using lots of paragraphs and increasing margins.
Yes, this is still Saul. :fatty:

I do the paragraph and margin thing, but teachers are on to the margins thing.  They don't allow more than 1.0 anymore. 

Character spacing is where it's at.  That and incoherent babbling in the middle of the paper.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: j rake on January 19, 2011, 09:20:38 PM
Send me your next paper. Will teach you a few tricks.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 19, 2011, 09:21:30 PM
Send me your next paper. Will teach you a few tricks.
WILL DO! 
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 19, 2011, 09:26:51 PM
one space. and get rid of commas. they're stupid.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: HeinBallz on January 19, 2011, 09:37:45 PM
I just liberally throw in semicolons; I don't even use them properly; it's just a big eff YOU!
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: sys on January 19, 2011, 11:04:37 PM
two spaces for all informal communication.  it's important for me because i don't capitalize; i need the extra space for readability.

anything that's going to be printed, i use one space.  if it's sorta formal, but not intended for print, like an emailed letter or something, then i usually use two spaces.  because that's my preference and my default.  but i'll sometimes use one, if i feel i'll be judged adversely for using two.



great thread topic, btw.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Cire on January 19, 2011, 11:12:53 PM
If someone uses one space after a period in a forest, does anyone give a rat's ass?
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Tobias on January 19, 2011, 11:23:24 PM
JFC, the more I read this article the more I get pissed off at these anti-establishment "typographer" shitheads.

"Spaces used to be needed for readability on monospace fonts so you could easily chunk sentences in your brain" vs. "If you get a really big pause—a big hole—in the middle of a line, the reader pauses. And you don't want people to pause all the time. You want the text to flow."

GMAFB, pick a side.  At least don't frame it out like these "professionals" have any real argument other than wanting to validate their existence.  eff you and eff your kerning, Dr. Typographer!
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: bubbles4ksu on January 19, 2011, 11:38:19 PM
Wow what a bad thread. Unreal that this kind of bullshit is allowed on an "elite" board. Lol eff this stupid ass bbs. Omg u guys suck if u are involved in this sort of thread. Lol eff u dumbasses.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: ew2x4 on January 19, 2011, 11:58:04 PM
JFC, the more I read this article the more I get pissed off at these anti-establishment "typographer" shitheads.

"Spaces used to be needed for readability on monospace fonts so you could easily chunk sentences in your brain" vs. "If you get a really big pause—a big hole—in the middle of a line, the reader pauses. And you don't want people to pause all the time. You want the text to flow."

GMAFB, pick a side.  At least don't frame it out like these "professionals" have any real argument other than wanting to validate their existence.  eff you and eff your kerning, Dr. Typographer!

In this case, the typographers are the establishment.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Stevesie60 on January 20, 2011, 12:00:29 AM
The best thing to do if you want to increase your paper is to increase font size to about 12.2. I haven't done it since I graduated, but it's around there. It allows you to type two or three less lines per page, so on a four page paper, it makes a big difference.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: kougar24 on January 20, 2011, 12:49:33 AM
One-space guy all the way. Two spaces chop up paragraphs way too much.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: nicname on January 20, 2011, 01:34:57 AM
one space. and get rid of commas. they're stupid.

and capitalization. and sometimes even spaces altogether. amirite?
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on January 20, 2011, 08:14:59 AM
Only old sons of bitches use 2 spaces.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: HeinBallz on January 20, 2011, 09:58:44 AM
In all honesty, It totally depends on the font you're using.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 20, 2011, 09:59:35 AM
In all honesty, It totally depends on the font you're using.

Quote
General APA Guidelines

Your essay should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. You should use 10-12 pt. Times New Roman font or a similar font.
:runaway:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: j rake on January 20, 2011, 10:07:18 AM
I used to shrink my font to 11.5 and move the margins to 0.8 on both sides.

HATED page limits on papers.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 20, 2011, 10:17:46 AM
Block quotes. :fatty:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Cire on January 20, 2011, 10:19:22 AM
My papers were ALWAYS half a page short of whatever the minimum was, I just turned them in.  probably cost me an A in a class or two.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 20, 2011, 10:20:34 AM
My papers were ALWAYS half a page short of whatever the minimum was, I just turned them in.  probably cost me an A in a class or two.
I always make mine half a page or so longer than the minimum, just so it looks like i'm trying to do "more" than the minimum.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: kso_FAN on January 20, 2011, 10:28:16 AM
I can adjust, but its hard. Every teacher I've ever had (including K-State) taught 2 spaces or at least never even mentioned the 1 space concept.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: j rake on January 20, 2011, 10:32:00 AM
Block quotes. :fatty:

Block quotes should be single-spaced, FYI.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on January 20, 2011, 10:39:33 AM
I used to shrink my font to 11.5 and move the margins to 0.8 on both sides.

HATED page limits on papers.

Yeah, both minimum and maximum page limits suck, but maximum limits are usually much harder to work with.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Cire on January 20, 2011, 10:57:40 AM
agree on maximum. Also agree on training yourself to NOT double space. I will start trying this.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: kso_FAN on January 20, 2011, 11:03:38 AM
agree on maximum. Also agree on training yourself to NOT double space. I will start trying this.

It will take a lot of time. Now I have to go back and erase all the extra spaces after I type something out, or I have to stop and think about it at the end of every sentence. I double space instinctively after all these years of training. :sigh:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: j rake on January 20, 2011, 11:24:41 AM
It will take a lot of time. Now I have to go back and erase all the extra spaces after I type something out, or I have to stop and think about it at the end of every sentence. I double space instinctively after all these years of training. :sigh:

"Find and replace."
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: pissclams on January 20, 2011, 11:28:25 AM
guess i'll just keep using double spaces and in the end i'll have a ton more spaces than you rubes have.  wow, guess what happens when spaces start selling like gold does?  tron type crap will happen that's what.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: felix rex on January 20, 2011, 11:40:22 AM
It will take a lot of time. Now I have to go back and erase all the extra spaces after I type something out, or I have to stop and think about it at the end of every sentence. I double space instinctively after all these years of training. :sigh:

"Find and replace."


I run this on almost everything I edit right out of the gate.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: mcmwcat on January 21, 2011, 01:39:09 PM
if i'm only allowed one space after a period,i'm going to stop using spaces after commas.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: jmlynch1 on January 21, 2011, 02:37:29 PM
I didn't know people that went to college used two spaces.  :horrorsurprise:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Dr Rick Daris on January 21, 2011, 02:38:56 PM
if i'm only allowed one space after a period,i'm going to stop using spaces after commas.

my advice would be to just stop using commas.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: SkinnyBenny on January 21, 2011, 04:28:40 PM
This slate guy is a douche.  Strunk & White say two, and they know more than any typographer shitface or bad person slate writer ever knew.  Countless other style guides say two.

Me?  I use seven.   :party:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Rage Against the McKee on January 21, 2011, 04:37:12 PM
This slate guy is a douche.  Strunk & White say two, and they know more than any typographer shitface or bad person slate writer ever knew.  Countless other style guides say two.

Me?  I use seven.   :party:

The MLA handbook only used one space after a period.

http://www.mla.org/style_faq3 (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: SkinnyBenny on January 21, 2011, 04:43:15 PM
MLA?   :blah:
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: Tobias on January 21, 2011, 05:27:45 PM
The MLA handbook only used one space after a period.

http://www.mla.org/style_faq3 (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)

That's a pretty long-winded way for them to state "do it how you want".  rough ridin' Fake Sugar Dick (WARNING, NOT THE REAL SUGAR DICK!) typographers jacking off into the MLA's pockets with their fake money from their fake profession.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: felix rex on January 21, 2011, 05:59:58 PM
There's a hilarious irony in Skinny rallying behind S&W while blasting Snyder with both barrels. I, for one, enjoy it.
Title: Re: How many spaces after a period?
Post by: SkinnyBenny on January 22, 2011, 11:24:45 AM
I know, isn't it great?   :party: