Comments on: One Space or Two? http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:48:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: D. C. Toedt http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-94708 D. C. Toedt Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:02:03 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-94708 I became a convert to ragged right a number of years ago, but I continue to use two spaces after a period. Why? So that the skimming reader, in search of a specific thought, point, etc., can more readily jump from sentence to sentence. I became a convert to ragged right a number of years ago, but I continue to use two spaces after a period. Why? So that the skimming reader, in search of a specific thought, point, etc., can more readily jump from sentence to sentence.

]]> By: Ken Adams http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-92768 Ken Adams Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:27:50 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-92768 Mike: Professional typographers don't see any benefit to using in a word-processing document two spaces between every sentence in an uncertain attempt to address the issue you raise. I agree with them. As for your question, I'm not qualified to answer with any certainty. Ken Mike: Professional typographers don’t see any benefit to using in a word-processing document two spaces between every sentence in an uncertain attempt to address the issue you raise. I agree with them.

As for your question, I’m not qualified to answer with any certainty.

Ken

]]> By: Mike Friedman http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-92767 Mike Friedman Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:45:30 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-92767 It’s 5 a.m.  I am going to sleep. It’s 5 a.m. and I am going to sleep. This is why I have always used two spaces after a “.” and always will until word processors become smart enough to recognize and specially handle the end of a sentence. I wonder—does a professionally typeset document really use the same space after a period in a sentence as it does between two sentences? It’s 5 a.m.  I am going to sleep.

It’s 5 a.m. and I am going to sleep.

This is why I have always used two spaces after a “.” and always will until word processors become smart enough to recognize and specially handle the end of a sentence.

I wonder—does a professionally typeset document really use the same space after a period in a sentence as it does between two sentences?

]]> By: Alex http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-53536 Alex Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:32:31 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-53536 Geographical feedback: I was surprised by this discussion (came here from the post about <em>justified vs. ragged right</em>), in my area (I think "ex-USSR" and "Eastern Europe" are the closest descriptions) there is no such issue. One space after a period, and it would never occur to me to use two spaces instead. Final thoughts - the blog is interesting, I'm positively impressed by the fact that such issues are discussed by "law people". Geographical feedback: I was surprised by this discussion (came here from the post about justified vs. ragged right), in my area (I think “ex-USSR” and “Eastern Europe” are the closest descriptions) there is no such issue. One space after a period, and it would never occur to me to use two spaces instead.

Final thoughts – the blog is interesting, I’m positively impressed by the fact that such issues are discussed by “law people”.

]]> By: Laura Cardinal http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-11044 Laura Cardinal Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:18:11 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-11044 I learned to type on a manual typewriter, in the 1960's. Of course we "thump-thumped" at the end of every sentence. I usually do, to this day. I am trying to stop, but I find the finished product more difficult to read. In a long piece, therefore, especially something written for an older judge, I leave lots of white space. Thump-thump. I learned to type on a manual typewriter, in the 1960’s. Of course we “thump-thumped” at the end of every sentence. I usually do, to this day. I am trying to stop, but I find the finished product more difficult to read. In a long piece, therefore, especially something written for an older judge, I leave lots of white space. Thump-thump.

]]> By: Ken Adams http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-3280 Ken Adams Thu, 05 Apr 2007 22:27:53 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-3280 Heidi: I can think of three reasons not to adopt the convention you suggest. First, fully justifying text is a bad idea, as it makes it harder to read. (I'll be writing about this at some point.) Second, if you nevertheless switch between left justification and full justification, you'd have to adjust the spacing after punctuation; that would be a tremendous nuisance. And third, typographer's aversion to two spaces bears no relation to how the text is justified. Ken Heidi: I can think of three reasons not to adopt the convention you suggest. First, fully justifying text is a bad idea, as it makes it harder to read. (I’ll be writing about this at some point.) Second, if you nevertheless switch between left justification and full justification, you’d have to adjust the spacing after punctuation; that would be a tremendous nuisance. And third, typographer’s aversion to two spaces bears no relation to how the text is justified. Ken

]]> By: Heidi Orcutt-Gachiri http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-3279 Heidi Orcutt-Gachiri Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:21:41 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-3279 In my company, we have talked about using two spaces for left-justified text but one space for fully justified text. Do you think justification should play a role in whether to use one space or two? In my company, we have talked about using two spaces for left-justified text but one space for fully justified text. Do you think justification should play a role in whether to use one space or two?

]]> By: Mister Thorne http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-1192 Mister Thorne Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:15:55 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-1192 To convince those old-fashioned lawyers to give up their old-fashioned ways (using French spacing and omitting serial commas), it might be useful to have them review Supreme Court rulings, or Federal legislation, or briefs filed by the U.S. Solicitor General: they don't use French spacing and they do use serial commas. Unfortunately, all of those mentioned above do use "Table of Contents" as the heading for a table of contents, but that's a very common error in many occupations. To convince those old-fashioned lawyers to give up their old-fashioned ways (using French spacing and omitting serial commas), it might be useful to have them review Supreme Court rulings, or Federal legislation, or briefs filed by the U.S. Solicitor General: they don’t use French spacing and they do use serial commas.

Unfortunately, all of those mentioned above do use “Table of Contents” as the heading for a table of contents, but that’s a very common error in many occupations.

]]> By: John Law Student http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-1075 John Law Student Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:25:21 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-1075 One problem I've run in to is ending sentences with "a.m." or "p.m." I now just avoid this (not too hard), but it is visually confusing when only using one space between sentences. Although the style guides vary, the proper typographical solution is to use small caps for this kind of abbreviation. But my legal writing prof specifically said not to do this. Small caps are kind of a pain anyway. Despite the advice of every style guide (The Red Book, MLA, Chicago), he also prefers two spaces between sentences although does not require it. I personally type two spaces after a period by force of habit, and likely always will. In email it makes sense: you should not assume a proportional font on the other end. (And in email you should stick to strict ASCII and avoid any special formatting, but that's a different story.) When creating something that is to be printed or turned into a PDF (same thing really) I always do a search and replace on the two spaces. I recommend the book "The Mac is Not a Typewriter" (there's also "The PC is Not a Typewriter"). It is a crash course on the basic typographical conventions one should follow when creating text on a computer. One problem I’ve run in to is ending sentences with “a.m.” or “p.m.” I now just avoid this (not too hard), but it is visually confusing when only using one space between sentences.

Although the style guides vary, the proper typographical solution is to use small caps for this kind of abbreviation. But my legal writing prof specifically said not to do this. Small caps are kind of a pain anyway. Despite the advice of every style guide (The Red Book, MLA, Chicago), he also prefers two spaces between sentences although does not require it.

I personally type two spaces after a period by force of habit, and likely always will. In email it makes sense: you should not assume a proportional font on the other end. (And in email you should stick to strict ASCII and avoid any special formatting, but that’s a different story.)

When creating something that is to be printed or turned into a PDF (same thing really) I always do a search and replace on the two spaces.

I recommend the book “The Mac is Not a Typewriter” (there’s also “The PC is Not a Typewriter”). It is a crash course on the basic typographical conventions one should follow when creating text on a computer.

]]> By: Ken Adams http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/comment-page-1/#comment-1042 Ken Adams Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:33:54 +0000 http://www.adamsdrafting.com/2006/10/30/one-space-or-two/#comment-1042 Otto: No publisher, including publishers of newspapers, ever used two spaces. But I feel your pain: your complaint is similar to the issue discussed in Mike's comment and my response. I don't think there's any quick fix. Maybe a new set of glasses! Ken Otto: No publisher, including publishers of newspapers, ever used two spaces. But I feel your pain: your complaint is similar to the issue discussed in Mike’s comment and my response. I don’t think there’s any quick fix. Maybe a new set of glasses! Ken

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