Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I need answers

Here is my question:

Do you double space after a period at the end of a sentence?

When did I miss the memo that we weren't supposed to do this anymore?

19 notes:

dalene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dalene said...

No.

Yes.

You can read more here.

I recently heard the AP Stylebook reversed their decision and went back to two, but I haven't seen that in writing yet and I can see no good reason for it, so I'm sticking with one. Because I'm lazy like that.

Fig said...

I wish I could remember when and why I went to one space. I know it was years ago ... I'm thinking when I worked at ah-ha.com in 2002. Because it was all hip Internet and shiz.

~j. said...

Not anymore. It saves trees. Or someping.

Kate3 said...

Those of us who learned to type on a typewriter can't stop double spacing between sentences regardless of the rule. So, there you go.

Keli said...

My hubs just took an English class, and according to his AP Style book, the rule is still 2 spaces after a period. But I think exceptions to all rules are acceptable in blogging. We can pretty much make up words and our own punctuation.

natalie said...

Even if they did change it, I could not make myself change to one space after a period. Just. can't. do. it.

coryshay said...

I pretty much stopped learning anything English related in the 6th grade, and they taught me 2, so 2 it is.

Emily said...

I'm a fan of the single space after a period, but I've heard you should double space if the sentence ends with an abbreviation like U.S. So there you go! ;)

McKelle said...

I learned it was one space while I was taking a typography class in college. Graphic designers only do one space because they're super cool and stuff.

Jocelyn said...

I am obbsessive about double spacing after a sentence, it is just habit. I find when I text I even do it and have to go back and delete a space so my text will fit into one message! I am no English major, but comeon! Let's keep it old schooL! I have not heard that you were not supposed to and when I notice people don't I totally stick up my nose and look down on them. Hee hee

Nichole said...

my world almost fell out of orbit just now, you don't even know!! i was all "you're not supposed to double space after a period anymore!?!?!" and then i hyperventilated, regrouped and decided i need proof of such a declaration.

so?

Steph said...

Apparently you aren't supposed to anymore. But guess what? I just did. I'm a rebel like that.

Teri said...

My English prof. told me that in like 2003...I still double spaced in all my papers...it made them longer.

cthomas said...

I keep it old school. Two for me, always.

Erin said...

Did it change? I do the two spaces, yo.

Shar said...

I don't. Because I'm lazy. And I don't really know if you do or not because I'm good at math, not English.

Swanky Mommy said...

Since you KNOW you have to listen to me here, it depends on what citation style you are using or which publisher you are submitting to (is that novel done yet). Ultimately, it's consistency that's key these days. I no longer mark down on it, so sorry if I taught you this "rule." :) he he he

"Lucky" said...

With the invention of computers came the new rule of one space after periods. Fonts were designed to take care of the necessary spacing. Double spacing might mess up formating.