Spacing after periods

[GeorgieForPresident2216]

I've always double spaced after periods.  That's how I was taught in high school typing class.  I always thought people who didn't had never been formally taught to type.  I read recently it is incorrect and a relic of the typewriter age.  In fact I read that double spacing after periods is a sure sign you're over 40 and out of touch. 

I've been looking through some publications, and sure enough everything is single spaced after a period, exclamation point, or question mark: articles on major news sites like the New York Times, BBC, and CBC; government and university sites; scientific publications, and published books.

Where do you fall on the whole spacing after a period issue?

[chefist]

I've always double spaced after periods.  That's how I was taught in high school typing class.  I always thought people who didn't had never been formally taught to type.  I read recently it is incorrect and a relic of the typewriter age.  In fact I read that double spacing after periods is a sure sign you're over 40 and out of touch. 

I've been looking through some publications, and sure enough everything is single spaced after a period, exclamation point, or question mark: articles on major news sites like the New York Times, BBC, and CBC; government and university sites; scientific publications, and published books.

Where do you fall on the whole spacing after a period issue?

Yup, it is single now...I still use two as an FU to the man...

[starrmtn001]

I suggest 26 to 28 days.

[MABUSE]

I refuse to have my punctuation dictated to me by weaseling technocrats masquerading as self-proclaimed erudite hipsters.  There are two spaces after a period for reasons beyond simple typography.  The completion of a thought needs to be well set-off from those which follow.  In my view, those two spaces, visually, may be as or more important than the actual punctuation mark itself for generating clarity.
**M**

[GeorgieForPresident2216]

I refuse to have my punctuation dictated to me by weaseling technocrats masquerading as self-proclaimed erudite hipsters.  There are two spaces after a period for reasons beyond simple typography.  The completion of a thought needs to be well set-off from those which follow.  In my view, those two spaces, visually, may be as or more important than the actual punctuation mark itself for generating clarity.
**M**

That was my thinking.

[chefist]

I refuse to have my punctuation dictated to me by weaseling technocrats masquerading as self-proclaimed erudite hipsters.  There are two spaces after a period for reasons beyond simple typography.  The completion of a thought needs to be well set-off from those which follow.  In my view, those two spaces, visually, may be as or more important than the actual punctuation mark itself for generating clarity.
**M**

Agreed...1 after a comma, colon or semi-colon...2 after a sentence ending punctuation...makes sense...

[Inglorious Bitch]

So 2 spaces after a period is a "thing"? 

[MABUSE]

So 2 spaces after a period is a "thing"? 

It is only a "thing" insofar as it has been made one by self-appointed arbiters who have no actual control, power, authority or standing to insist it be done away with besides their hubris and arrogance.  I shall punctuate according to the actual rules, not at the whim of a gaggle of cretins.
**M**

[chefist]

It is only a "thing" insofar as it has been made one by self-appointed arbiters who have no actual control, power, authority or standing to insist it be done away with besides their hubris and arrogance.  I shall punctuate according to the actual rules, not at the whim of a gaggle of cretins.
**M**

Never seen you around...but you are an OG...props...

[K_Dubb]

Agreed...1 after a comma, colon or semi-colon...2 after a sentence ending punctuation...makes sense...

I was taught two after a colon as well.  I have heard some style manuals now say one, but yeah, fuck the innovators and their cultural shibboleths.

[onan]

Spacing after a period (not the menstrual type) has always been part of typing on a typewriter. Magazine publishing dropped two spaces in the 40's or 50's. I think book publishing did the same thing.

[albrecht]

Two spaces after a period (full stop.)  Comma before the final coordinating conjunction in a three or more sequence (before the "and," as the most common example.)
Note: not proper sentences above!

[GuerrillaUnReal]

I'm 30 and I've literally never heard this double spacing rule.

[PB the Deplorable]

... In fact I read that double spacing after periods is a sure sign you're over 40 and out of touch...

Would these be the same illiterates who drink Pabst Blue Ribbon beer by choice?

[albrecht]

I'm 30 and I've literally never heard this double spacing rule.

You probably think Pluto isn't a planet. Because the revisionists tell you so doesn't make it so! 
ps: I don't think they even TEACH typing anymore in school, even in times that one would think it would be more necessary! I know they don't teach grammar much at schools anymore- or maybe they do in some weird "new" way. Diagram this sentence, now! And tell me how many errors I made. Haha 

[GuerrillaUnReal]

You probably think Pluto isn't a planet. Because the revisionists tell you so doesn't make it so! 
ps: I don't think they even TEACH typing anymore in school, even in times that one would think it would be more necessary! I know they don't teach grammar much at schools anymore- or maybe they do in some weird "new" way. Diagram this sentence, now! And tell me how many errors I made. Haha 

Education is so poor in the country. I was the first of the computer generation so my teachers said not to worry about proper spelling and grammar as computers would be able to fix both.

I honestly didn't have even a semi-literate grasp of grammar until it was beaten into me by professional editors. I admit I have a pretty blue collar grasp of the English language even with a college education with a heavy emphasis on English.

I still screw up its and it's and I have no idea what this thing ; is.

[Richard Groyper]

Me know writ goode.

[Juan]

But, but the extra spaces may cause global warming.

[GravitySucks]

I've always double spaced after periods.  That's how I was taught in high school typing class.  I always thought people who didn't had never been formally taught to type.  I read recently it is incorrect and a relic of the typewriter age.  In fact I read that double spacing after periods is a sure sign you're over 40 and out of touch. 

I've been looking through some publications, and sure enough everything is single spaced after a period, exclamation point, or question mark: articles on major news sites like the New York Times, BBC, and CBC; government and university sites; scientific publications, and published books.

Where do you fall on the whole spacing after a period issue?

In technical writing, I always do that.  But it really had a tendency to make my computers programs do really weird shit when I tried to compile.

[Inglorious Bitch]

I still screw up its and it's and I have no idea what this thing ; is.

That's a semi colon. It is used to stick 2 sentences together when they are related enough that you don't want to make 2 separate sentences.


Here is the official definition:


https://www.google.com/search?q=use+of+a+semi+colon&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

When a semicolon is used to join two or more ideas (parts) in a sentence, those ideas are then given equal position or rank. Some people write with a word processor; others write with a pen or pencil. Use a semicolon between two independent clauses that are connected by conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.

[GeorgieForPresident2216]

In technical writing, I always do that.  But it really had a tendency to make my computers programs do really weird shit when I tried to compile.

[albrecht]

Education is so poor in the country. I was the first of the computer generation so my teachers said not to worry about proper spelling and grammar as computers would be able to fix both.

I honestly didn't have even a semi-literate grasp of grammar until it was beaten into me by professional editors. I admit I have a pretty blue collar grasp of the English language even with a college education with a heavy emphasis on English.

I still screw up its and it's and I have no idea what this thing ; is.

I, humbly, suggest Skrunk and White, Garner's, and Hart's Rules. And get an unabridged dictionary (Oxford and Merriam-Webster; not a "Webster's" or a "collegiate" version, and older the better due to the "dumbing down.") Diagram this bitch and tell me what I did wrong! 

[PB the Deplorable]

I admit I have a pretty blue collar grasp of the English language even with a college education with a heavy emphasis on English.

And noted linguist George Noory has a degree in Communications

[albrecht]

And George Noory has a degree in Communications

Well, thinking like a glass half-full type of guy, at least he never became a dentist- shudder- with his proclivities and hang-ups? I think he even mentioned once how he loved the movie (I never saw, but sounds bad, "Marathon Man" was bad enough for me) "The Dentist?"

[starrmtn001]

But, but the extra spaces may cause global warming.

[PB the Deplorable]

Well, thinking like a glass half-full type of guy, at least he never became a dentist- shudder- with his proclivities and hang-ups? I think he even mentioned once how he loved the movie (I never saw, but sounds bad, Marathon Bad was bad enough for me) "The Dentist?"

Yes, he could have been known as Dr. Fumblegums, instead of just Fumblegums.

[Art]

... I have no idea what this thing ; is.

That is a way to avoid using conjunctions.        But IB already explained it.         So never mind.   

[BobGrau]

I'm 30 and I've literally never heard this double spacing rule.

I'm 38 and was taught double spacing at school. I do live in Hobbiton, though.



EDIT: and no, I don't use it on the internet or in texts. It's a formal thing.

[aldousburbank]

Yup, it is single now...I still use two as an FU to the man...

It's hard to believe that you're still allowed to run free.

[chefist]

It's hard to believe that you're still allowed to run free.

The desert Southwest my brother! you understand!