When typing, how many spaces are required after a period and quotation mark?

Question

For example:

He said, "how are you."

After the quotation mark do I need to space once or twice before starting a new sentence?

Thank you

My grammar stinks :(

Answer 1

When people learned to type on typewriters, they were taught to put 2 spaces after a period (or any other punctuation at the end of a sentence).

That changed with the advent of "proportional" type ... and the computer.

Proportional type allots x-amount of "units" to a line of type. Each character has an assigned number of units of width -- usually an "n" = 9 and an "m" = 18.

The units which are not used up by typed characters are divided evenly among the word spaces in the line of text. That's why you sometimes see enormous word spaces in a paragraph that is justified (flush left and right). If the next word is not able or permitted to be hyphenated, the program must move it down to the next line and use all the leftover units in the word spaces of the first line.

So you can see that if you use 2 word spaces in proportional type, you're contributing to that problem, a problem which used to be considered unacceptable in typography.

Just a note to VeggieTart: Yes, you're basically right. My point was that the second word space is unnecessary since proportional type is designed to make all wordspaces uniform in size. A good proofreader will catch the double word space and mark it for deletion.

Answer 2

If you're typing on a computer, one is fine. Computer fonts are set up so that a bit of extra space is built in. Lots of people still use two spaces, though. It's easy to go through and change two spaces to one by using the find/replace function in your word processor.

If, by chance, you're on a typewriter, then two.

Answer 3

there's a lot wrong with that example to be honest.

first, it's a question, so it should have a question mark, not a period. second, it would be asked, not said. the example should read: He asked, "how are you?" although "How are you?," he asked. reads better.

the answer to your question though is one. traditionally on typewriters, where the characters were monospaced (e.g., the n takes up the same width as the m), you would use two spaces to separate sentences clearly. With proportional fonts on the computer (for example, n is half the width of m), one space is the norm, although many still use two spaces out of habit.

Answer 4

We require 2. Just like directly after a period. (That is according to the Government Style Manual). Believe this is true in Gregg too.

Answer 5

I was taught typing over 20 years ago on a typewriter, so I always put in two, as I was taught. I use Microsoft Word, and since I type with the text flush left, I have to put in two. Maybe if you have it justified, you don't have to.

Answer 6

Inside the quotation, and leave one space before typing another sentence.

Answer 7

I was taught after a period you use two spaces. I don't do it on e-mail, but a professional letter, I usually do.

Answer 8

As for after the period, I typically use two spaces, though single spacing is acceptable as well. Quote marks - single space please.

Correction to your example:

He asked, "How are you?"
or
"How are you?" he said.

Doesn't look like your grammer stinks that much to me.

What irks me is when people displace then and than. They use the same word in either place. "He went to the store, than he went home." WRONG! Than shows opposition. Then (which should have been used in my example) shows progression of time. "He went to the store, THEN he went home."

Answer 9

Always twice. That way people know you are starting a new sentence. Otherwise it seems to run together.

Answer 10

it doesn't matter as long as it is uniform throughout the entire paper, you can choose one or two