Spaces Between Sentences--One or Two?

Jamie Stone · Mar 16, 2010

As the title implies, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to use one space between sentences or two spaces. My English teachers and ex-step-father always drilled it into me to use two spaces, but my fiancé says that he has always been taught to use one space. A quick Google search is giving me mixed advice, so I thought I'd ask you all.

Kathleen42 · Mar 16, 2010

fenroyal said:
As the title implies, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to use one space between sentences or two spaces. My English teachers and ex-step-father always drilled it into me to use two spaces, but my fiancé says that he has always been taught to use one space. A quick Google search is giving me mixed advice, so I thought I'd ask you all.

You really don't need two spaces with modern word processors and design programs.

That being said, no one will ding you (I don't think) for using two. I'd just be consistent. It's fairly easy to do a find and replace on them, at any rate.

kurzon · Mar 16, 2010

I was taught and prefer two. I find that the sentences look a little more 'crowded' with one.

shadowwalker · Mar 16, 2010

The submission "standard" is double-spaced. That's what I've found on every site that discusses formatting for submissions, at any rate.

kposa · Mar 16, 2010

The 'two spaces' rule was set in place when typewriters were in common use. The extra space made sentences look better on the page. Computers have made this rule unnecessary since word processors automatically adjust the space after a period to achieve the same look.

So, I guess the answer is 'it depends'. If you're using a typewriter, two spaces. Computer, one space.

Libbie · Mar 16, 2010

I am OLLLLD (compared to you), and I learned it with two spaces. So that's how I roll. Usually whatever program I'm using just converts it to one, but whatever. I still hit that space bar twice. At the speed of sound. CLICK-CLICK.

kurzon · Mar 16, 2010

kposa said:
The 'two spaces' rule was set in place when typewriters were in common use. The extra space made sentences look better on the page. Computers have made this rule unnecessary since word processors automatically adjust the space after a period to achieve the same look.

So, I guess the answer is 'it depends'. If you're using a typewriter, two spaces. Computer, one space.

DO computers do that? My computer automatically expands or "scrunches in" space when it's trying to justify, but it doesn't specifically make the space after a full stop automatically look bigger.

Deleted member 42 · Mar 16, 2010

Do. Not. Full-justify.

Wordprocessors don't really do it right (to be done correctly it needs to be kerned).

One or two spaces; unless you have a submission guideline that says otherwise, just pick one and be consistent.

shadowwalker · Mar 16, 2010

Well, my word processing program lets me format for single space or double space and there's a definite difference. The sites I looked at (and the editor who I emailed) all said submissions should be double-spaced, and I doubt they even considered someone using a typewriter. So that's what I'm going by.

kurzon · Mar 17, 2010

Medievalist said:
Do. Not. Full-justify.

Wordprocessors don't really do it right (to be done correctly it needs to be kerned).

One or two spaces; unless you have a submission guideline that says otherwise, just pick one and be consistent.

I don't fully justify for submissions.

There are other documents out there - hard to believe, I know.

Mara · Mar 17, 2010

Thanks, Medievalist.

I've been frustrated ever since a few people told me that I should change to one space after periods, because I was taught to use two and can't easily change it now. But if most publishers don't care as long as its consistent, that's great.

dpaterso · Mar 17, 2010

shadowwalker said:
The sites I looked at (and the editor who I emailed) all said submissions should be double-spaced, and I doubt they even considered someone using a typewriter. So that's what I'm going by.

Just wondering if there's a possibility of crossed lines here when talking about 2 spaces after closing period, and a double-spaced manuscript.

-Derek

shaldna · Mar 17, 2010

We were taught that it's two spaces after a full stop and one space after a comma.

Incidently, if you do it this way, Word doesn't fill your page with wiggly green lines.

My typist at work does it this way, and she gets quite cross when people don't do it correctly. She's been doing her job for forty years and takes it very seriously, so I assume she knows what she's talking about

hannah_92 · Mar 17, 2010

I've always being taught to do two spaces after a full stop. I'm pretty set in my ways and do it automatically withoug even thinking about it. I think the main thing is to be consistant though - pick one and stick with it.

Bufty · Mar 17, 2010

Fenroyal.

I just hit the space bar once and move on, letting my word processor do what it has to - I've more important things to worry about than remembering to hit the space bar twice after a full stop.

Left justify, set the processor to whatever line-spacing you want and to automatically inset new paragraphs, then concentrate on the writing.

Kathleen42 · Mar 17, 2010

shadowwalker said:
Well, my word processing program lets me format for single space or double space and there's a definite difference. The sites I looked at (and the editor who I emailed) all said submissions should be double-spaced, and I doubt they even considered someone using a typewriter. So that's what I'm going by.

Double-spaced refers to lines. I believe the OP (and I could be wrong) is talking about the number of spaces after a period.

DeleyanLee · Mar 17, 2010

Pick one and be consistent, whatever's natural to your typing habit.

I was taught 2 when I learned to type. Then I worked for a company that INSISTED on having only 1 after a period, so that's what is now natural to me. No one's ever noticed.

Chris P · Mar 17, 2010

Most style guides now suggest one space after a period. The APA Publications Manual got flamed recently for suggesting two, and they have backed off from that recommendation, telling the writer to refer to the publication outlet's instructions (most of which use one).

The conflicting advice is because (as far as writing conventions go) one space is relatively new, and the rise of the internet seems to be the cause. I'm not coding-savvy enough to understand why webby geeky types like one space, but that seems to be where it came from.

I converted over in my own writing about 18 months ago when I started doing copy edit work. It was amazingly easy for me to switch. Two spaces feels wrong now.

seun · Mar 17, 2010

I've only ever used one. From all the rejections I've had, none have ever said it was a rejection because I only used one space after a sentence.

Cathy C · Mar 17, 2010

I spent my whole life doing two spaces but at the request of our editor now use one. It took a little effort to retrain my fingers. But it was successful and now I use one for everything (except at my legal day job where I still use two.)

kaitlin008 · Mar 17, 2010

I was always taught two, and it's a really hard habit to break. But it's also not the most horrible thing--it's pretty easy to ctrl+f for two spaces and replace it with one.
I also don't think anyone's going to reject you for doing it the 'wrong' way.

cameron_chapman · Mar 17, 2010

As a copyeditor, I'll beg everyone to use only one space. If you use two, it has to be converted to one, and if you're using "track changes" for copyediting remarks, all it ends up doing is making the entire MS filled with "corrections" (or we have to cheat and turn off the "track changes" to fix the spacing, and then remember to turn it back on).

Chris P · Mar 17, 2010

I used to prefer two spaces because in biology we abbreviate a genus name with a letter and a period followed by one space: H. sapiens, C. domesticus, etc. Two spaces helped separate sentences when lists of species were given:

"The tests were run on R. dominica, P. americana, and M. domestica. B. germanica was not tested..."

However, such situations are easily avoid by rewording and it hasn't been a problem.

Don't mind me. Just felt like posting something.

ETA: Of course my example falls apart with an online posting.

Fallen · Mar 17, 2010

I've only submitted to one publisher that asked for double spaces after a period, the others wanted single. I guess it just depends what the big guns want on the day...

Jamie Stone · Mar 17, 2010

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who's learned it one way and then had to change to another! It feels so natural to me to do two spaces that I suppose I'll type with two spaces for my own sanity, then replace them with one before submission. ^^; Thanks for all the answers!

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