In the typing classes I took many moons ago, it was two spaces after every period. In the age of desktop publishing, it seems to be one. Does it matter in a novel?
A Rather Silly Question... (1 space or 2 spaces????)
- Thread starter Noah Body
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Go with 1 space. It's the norm these days. And preferred. You'd be surprised by the difference in page count between using one and using two periods after a sentence. Every place I freelance for uses 1 space as standard...as well as anywhere I ever had a short story published. I'm guessing novel format would be the same. It's all I use.
I believe the standard format for manuscripts is one space between sentences, but I think it's a pretty relaxed rule that most publishers don't care much about one way or the other.
1 space.
Word even corrects you if you put 2 spaces on accident. (Of course, Word isn't perfect, but still.. use 1 space.)
Word even corrects you if you put 2 spaces on accident. (Of course, Word isn't perfect, but still.. use 1 space.)
Holy shiznit, you're right! I didn't even bother to check, thinking this was a total dullard of a question!
Thanks for all the input, mi amigos/amigas.
I'm in the one-space everywhere camp. But, as long as you're consistent, you can always change the number of spaces following a period using find/replace functionality.
Using one space is now so standard, there are software applications that, by default, won't let you enter two spaces in a row at all.
Using one space is now so standard, there are software applications that, by default, won't let you enter two spaces in a row at all.
By habit I put two spaces, but WORD can easily change it to one with a global find-and-replace edit.
Yep, we have another thread on this subject still on the first page.
Here is the link: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180161
Here is the link: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180161
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The only time it was important for me was when I submitted my final manuscript galleys to the publisher. They wanted one space, not two after all periods.
I was struggling with this same question a few days ago.
I decided one space is better these days, but damn it... I just can't do it... physically or mentally, I can't do one space. I always put two without thinking. Even if I write a sentence that says something like, "Don't put two spaces at the end of this sentence, just put one." I'll put two just the same... can't help it.
Most publishers I've worked with either don't care or want one space... I've never had anyone specifically ask for two spaces...
After I write something I do a find and replace and get rid of the extra spaces that way.
I decided one space is better these days, but damn it... I just can't do it... physically or mentally, I can't do one space. I always put two without thinking. Even if I write a sentence that says something like, "Don't put two spaces at the end of this sentence, just put one." I'll put two just the same... can't help it.
Most publishers I've worked with either don't care or want one space... I've never had anyone specifically ask for two spaces...
After I write something I do a find and replace and get rid of the extra spaces that way.
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What they said, but I will personally use 2 spaces till the day I die, and spit in the eye of anyone who demands otherwise.
-Derek
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