So my roommate and I are on a quest to discover what the "right" answer is. One or two spaces between the period and the word at the beginning of the next sentence? Someone once told me it used to be two, but now one is becoming more acceptable. My roommate and I are both 2-space purists, but what is everyone's take on the issue?
2007-03-19 17:15:57 · 12 answers · asked by Gretchen 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It's 2 spaces after a period. One after a comma. Some people may not care much, but it is a good idea to make your readers eyes flow as easily and as smoothly as possible down the page. If they can follow your thoughts easily they are more likely to hear keep reading and attend to what you are saying.
Everybody's printers and publishing programs have their own way of doing things. You need to look at what happens to it in hard copy and see what you think works. And you need to have somebody else give it fresh eyes so you can have their feedback. Then you are in the best position to decide what works best. Good spacing is an important part of good written work.
2007-03-19 18:00:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You need to follow the most updated guidelines for the writing style you were asked to use; MLA, APA, etcetera. It has changed as you say because computers now leave a little space between words and punctuation that they did not leave before when most people typed on typewriters or used older type computer systems. But 4 years ago when I left university I was using 2 spaces after a period and was called on it only once that I recall.
2007-03-19 17:26:05 · answer #2 · answered by michelle_l_b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With backgrounds in both the sciences and arts, I learned 2 for science disciplines and 1 for arts. BUT, publishing changes, and although I have been away from higher ed science for a while, my feeling is that 1 is better for everything---space costs money, so it is at a premium.
Copy editing is sort of a form of art where the goal is to ensure that the reader can properly construe any given piece of information in one pass of the eye. I have never heard anyone argue convincingly that a lack of 2 spaces between sentences causes reading confusion---hence, all other things being equal, 1 space has to be the way to go...
2007-03-19 17:26:29 · answer #3 · answered by M T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
APA, MLA, Turabian, and the AP stylebook all use one period spacing now. It's really more of a case that two used to be used, however it has been eliminated now. Not a single major formal style uses two spaces after the period anymore.
2007-03-19 17:23:22 · answer #4 · answered by Will 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm at a loss for words by utilising your question. First, if that's a appropriate paper, you ought to understand that the right contraction of "you're" is "you're," no longer "your." Is it an project for college? An essay? A term paper? that's many times risk-free to double-area papers for college assignments. It makes it extensively much less complicated for the instructor to study and grade. And definite, it has to have paragraphs. that's a sturdy thought to make your self a depiction of the hassle-free subjects you will possibly prefer to hide first, then write your paper alongside the comparable strains. this is what each and every paper needs: An advent: locate an exciting thank you to introduce the priority you would be overlaying. supply an define of your substantial factor on your thesis fact, that's the final sentence of the advent. A physique: hide each and all of the factors you precise on your define. Make your argument, tell your tale, write the beef of the essay or paper. A end: Wrap up your paper and summarize what you lined. length ten to 12 font is favorite. circumstances New Roman is a secure font to apply. desire that enables.
2016-10-02 10:32:02 · answer #5 · answered by heiselman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I took a course in Technical Writing a year ago. The APA format is 2 spaces after the period, but I don't know about other formats.
2007-03-19 17:31:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it used to be a rule to use 2 spaces after a period, i think it was in one of my english books, or one of the mla books, but the rules changed a few years ago that you can use one or two. which ever you choose.
2007-03-19 17:26:30 · answer #7 · answered by married1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I write using APA style so I do put two spaces after a period. To determine which is correct you would have to select which style of writing you would like to follow.
2007-03-19 17:26:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
2 spaces.
2007-03-19 17:22:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
For formal papers, yes, it should be two spaces.
I have always done that for all my high school essays, which I must admit, are always pretty darn excellent.
Anyway, that's what my teachers have always told me.
2007-03-19 17:21:18 · answer #10 · answered by don m 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋