2 Quick (Maddening) Questions on Periods

I'm not an expert but I've seen several articles where the authors say to use one space at the end of a sentence.

I wouldn't add a second period after U.N.

I'm sure an expert will come along and tell us what to do.

For the first question, other threads on AW indicate that one space or two just tells whether you learned to type on a typewriter or a computer. As long as you're consistent throughout your manuscript, pick either style.

Not sure about the U.N., although I'd go with skipping the extra period.

As to spaces after a sentence, just pick one way and go with it consistently. If you need to change, b/c of a publisher's specs, it's easy enough to do.

Personally, if you don't have a preference, I'd recommend going with one space rather than two, now that (at least some) publishers take manuscripts on disk, rather than typing it over from scratch. In the final product, there will be just one space, so you've saved someone from having to do the "search and replace" function on your disk. Also, epubs generally want only one space.

I retrained myself some years ago, to do just one space, b/c I was doing a lot of freelance work for a company that required one space, and it was surprisingly easy to learn the new trick, despite being an old dog. At first, I did a search/replace at the end, as a final check, but it didn't take long before it had become an ingrained habit to just use one space.

JD

<<2 Quick (Maddening) Questions on Periods>>

Well, first off, it's a cycle when your...oh, never mind.

I've seen that one space after a period stuff. I know sometimes it has to do with how a pub, and I think it's more ezine related, formats its stuff. Has nothing to do with right or wrong. If you get the premium edition of AW Markets, check out the first market--they want one space after a period. They claim it'll drive their format folks nuts if you don't. Persoanlly, I think they can straighten that out with a small patch, but what do I know?

I put only one space after a period. Some people say two. But I think it doesn't really matter -- just be consistent. Personally, I think the two space thing is leftover from the typewriter days.

As for period after acronym -- no.

The information that I could find just reinforced my (very) humble opinion: Don't Double Up Periods.

Lynch's Guide to Grammar and Style

Spaces

One or two spaces is fine. Use whichever you prefer. As an editor, I mildly prefer two, but it just doesn't matter.

As an ex-newspaper gent, I can tell you AP Style is this way because space in newspapers is incredibly important. You do every last thing possible to save space, and using only one space after a period is just one of the tricks.

But even in newspapers, it really doesn't matter when you're the reporter. By the time a copy editor gets done with your piece it's so scrambled and marked up that no one can tell how many spaces you used.

Spaces after a period is as much a non-issue as there is. In all honesty, it's extremely unlikely that anyone is even going to notice. If they do, it certainly means your words aren't captivating enough to keep a reader's attention.