Formatting question...

[rubarbb]

Sentence Spacing
Definition: When the end of a sentence is reached, a period is inserted, after which either one or two spaces are inserted using the space bar.
Use in industry: When formatting a book for press, the spacing between sentences is reduced to a single space because the full justification of the printed page will add or subtract microspaces to achieve the proper length. However, most people learned to type/keyboard using two spaces, which is the standard for business. For the purpose of submitting a manuscript, an author may insert either one or two spaces, as they choose. However, if an agency/publisher has a preference as to a single space after periods, they will state this. Word processing software allows for global replacement of this, if necessary.
I read this on Aw and read a few other formatting notes that said to use a double space after the period. My question is, what do most everyone here use when submitting a ms, one of two spaces? Thanks...Ken

[Shady Lane]

I don't double space after sentences. And I don't think I could be convinced to do so.

[rubarbb]

Thanks Shady and congrtats on the book...

[rubarbb]

Anyone else?

[Haggis]

I untrained myself (quite easily) from using two spaces, and now use one. While two looked better on the typewriter, one looks better on the monitor. Still, as long as you're consistent with whatever you choose, I doubt it will make much difference. It's the story that counts.

[reenkam]

When I was little (aka 6-12) I used two, because that's what we learned. I never liked it. I think it looks funny. So then I started using one. I supposed I could still type with two, if I needed to, but no one's ever asked. I hope they don't really expect me to use two spaces if I go into business. I'd have to explain just how weird all the white space looks in the paragraphs...

[rubarbb]

Thanks, I also like one...

[jodiodi]

I write a lot for work, hence, I use 2 spaces out of pure habit. Sometimes I catch myself and remember to use one, but it's hard for me.

[rubarbb]

Yes, but what is the standard for ms submission?

[Birol]

Rubarbb, you're looking for a hard-and-fast answer. In this business, those are rare.

[Manat]

I just sold my first novel in January. I didn't know a great deal about formatting, in fact I'm still learning, but my editor insisted I reformat with chapter headings a third of the way down the page,26 lines per page, two spaces after periods,and she wanted all the underlined words changed back to italics before she'd offer a contract. I was more than happy to do it for her, particularly since she seems to have few issues with the more controversial aspects of the story itself. I guess every editor/house had their own preferences and style. I just got an offer on another book from the same house as per first right of refusal, but my agent wants to try it a few other places. He says I may have to reformat again, which is fine with me. I'd much rather have to do that than do big structural changes.

[Jamesaritchie]

As a writer, I always double space after a period, and as an editor I moderately prefer double spacing after a period. Anything that gives me more room to insert proofreaders' marks is a blessing.

But honest to God, no one really cares. This whole single/double space thing got started because some unknown soul tried transferring format requirements for electronic publishing to manuscript submission. Other have grabbed onto it like it's some sort of rule, when the truth is no one cares.

The manuscript itself is not going to be published, so it doesn't make a rat's behind worth of difference whether you single or double space after a period. You can triple space, if you want. Shoot, quadruple space. Then I might actually have enough space to slip in a proofreaders' mark without my glasses.

Really and truly, no editor who has a clue, who has ten percent of a clue, cares. It changes nothing. Double spaces do give me a minuscule bit of extra room to insert proofreaders' mark, but 99% of the time, I'm not even going to notice, and neither is any other editor.

I'll guarantee no editor is ever going to get mad, or reject you, or start cussing because of how many spaces you put after a period.

[Jamesaritchie]

I just sold my first novel in January. I didn't know a great deal about formatting, in fact I'm still learning, but my editor insisted I reformat with chapter headings a third of the way down the page,26 lines per page, two spaces after periods,and she wanted all the underlined words changed back to italics before she'd offer a contract. I was more than happy to do it for her, particularly since she seems to have few issues with the more controversial aspects of the story itself. I guess every editor/house had their own preferences and style. I just got an offer on another book from the same house as per first right of refusal, but my agent wants to try it a few other places. He says I may have to reformat again, which is fine with me. I'd much rather have to do that than do big structural changes.

Was this a hardcopy manuscript? No editor in his right mind asks for underlines to be changed to italics in a hardcopy manuscript. Even if the editor likes it, the next person in line is going to hate it.

And it's completely abnormal for any real editor to ask for something like this to be changed before you're offered a contract.

[rubarbb]

Thanks to all who answered, guess I will go with one space. Congrats. Manat on your book deal. And Birol, yes I was looking for a quick answer. Jamesaritchie I agree about the underlines for the italics...everything I have read tells you to underline...

[Manat]

Was this a hardcopy manuscript? No editor in his right mind asks for underlines to be changed to italics in a hardcopy manuscript. Even if the editor likes it, the next person in line is going to hate it.

And it's completely abnormal for any real editor to ask for something like this to be changed before you're offered a contract.

Yes it was a hard copy manuscript, for a real print publisher and a real editor with a good distribution and books on the shelf in Borders and Chapters and B@N and the local Coles and Walmart and Zellers. Yes the editor was I believe, in her right mind. I was sent a style sheet and told to conform and resubmit, and THEN was offered a contract. One of my friends is a USA today best selling author and she told me that her editor is also asking for italics rather than underlined as well, as have the editors of some of the folk in my writing group. I was surprised as all the how-to books said otherwise, but it appears the times are changing. They can't all be abnormal or insane.

Broken Wing coming in November 2008
Judith James
www.judithjamesauthor.com (http://www.judithjamesauthor.com)

[Ziljon]

I double space.

[JamieFord]

Screw it all...I'm quadruple spacing from now on. (Kidding)

And yeah, weirdness on changing the underlines back to itals. But hey, you got the contract.

[scarletpeaches]

I'd never heard of double-spacing after a full stop before joining AW. I've always single-spaced and always will.

[Susan B]

I double space, can't seem to train myself out of it.

I think it doesn't matter much, as long as you are consistent.

Susan

[Manat]

I'd never heard of double-spacing after a full stop before joining AW. I've always single-spaced and always will.

I used to single space as well and I couldn't figure out how to change it with find and replace, so I went through all 102,000 words and did it by hand. A friend has since shown me how to do it, so now I'm writing with a double space, but if a different house wants it switched I can click and drink coffee while the comp does most of the work.

[Cate]

In writing for magazines I am finding many wanted double spaces when I began, but now more are asking for a single space...

Now, when assigned a piece, I just ask the editor what they prefer before I start if it isn't in their guidelines.

[Birol]

I used to single space as well and I couldn't figure out how to change it with find and replace, so I went through all 102,000 words and did it by hand.

That sounds painful.

[Soccer Mom]

I double space. I think I notice a generation gap in many of us who do that as opposed to you whippersnappers who only single space. :D I submit a lot of short fiction and preferences vary. Unless submission guidelines specify (most of these are electronic submissions) then I just leave the double spaces. I've never had an editor complain about the double space.

[Haggis]

They can't all be abnormal or insane.


Yes they can. They're editors. :D










Uh, just kidding, all you editors out there. :gone:

[rubarbb]

Manat;1493345]I used to single space as well and I couldn't figure out how to change it with find and replace, so I went through all 102,000 words and did it by hand. A friend has since shown me how to do it, so now I'm writing with a double space, but if a different house wants it switched I can click and drink coffee while the comp does most of the work.


Manat, I write in Mocrosoft Word and wondered if I could switch from one to the other. What program do you use and if it is MS Word, how do you switch? Thanks...Ken

[Julie Worth]

I write a lot for work, hence, I use 2 spaces out of pure habit. Sometimes I catch myself and remember to use one, but it's hard for me.

Don't worry about it. When you're done, do a find on double spaces and "replace all" with single spaces. Takes a few seconds.

[askeladd]

I was taught to use double space after a period. I believe that this arose from the era of typewriters, which were fixed pitch font. With the advent of word processing software and proportional spaced fonts, the double-space rule has essentially been made obsolete. (I still use a double space after periods, though - and I don't think the world will come to an end over it :) .)

[rubarbb]

Don't worry about it. When you're done, do a find on double spaces and "replace all" with single spaces. Takes a few seconds.

Thanks but you'll have to be more specific please...:)

[Birol]

With the document open, click on Edit from Microsoft Word's main toolbar.
Click on Replace.
In the Find What field type .<space><space>, where the <space> is an actual space made using the spacebar on the keyboard.
In the Replace With field type .<space>, where the <space> is an actual space made using the spacebar on the keyboard.
Click Replace All.
When the system has finished making all the replacements, a pop-up will appear telling you the number of replacements made. Click OK on the pop-up to close it.
Repeat steps 1-6 with other possible forms of end of sentence punctuation other than the '.'.
Save the document.

[Julie Worth]

With the document open, click on Edit from Microsoft Word's main toolbar.
Click on Replace.
In the Find What field type .<space><space>, where the <space> is an actual space made using the spacebar on the keyboard.
In the Replace With field type .<space>, where the <space> is an actual space made using the spacebar on the keyboard.
Click Replace All.
When the system has finished making all the replacements, a pop-up will appear telling you the number of replacements made. Click OK on the pop-up to close it.
Repeat steps 1-6 with other possible forms of end of sentence punctuation other than the '.'.
Save the document.

Actually, all you need is to put two spaces in the find box and one in the replace box. You shouldn't be using multiple spaces anywhere in your ms (eg, for positioning--that's what tabs are for).

Do the replace more than once, and you'll get rid of those three spacers, four spacers, etc.

(If you're really an old timer, and you've been using five spaces for indents, first put five spaces in the find box, and ^t in the replace box. That will replace all those spaces with tab indents.)

[rubarbb]

Julie Worth;1494743]
(If you're really an old timer, and you've been using five spaces for indents, first put five spaces in the find box, and ^t in the replace box. That will replace all those spaces with tab indents.


What do you consider an old timer? Thank to all who helped with this issue... I still don't know if I will use a single or a double space...:D

[Soccer Mom]

I was taught to use double space after a period. I believe that this arose from the era of typewriters, which were fixed pitch font. With the advent of word processing software and proportional spaced fonts, the double-space rule has essentially been made obsolete. (I still use a double space after periods, though - and I don't think the world will come to an end over it :) .)


Yup. I learned to type on a big old typewriter and took typing in school. On a typewriter. I hand wrote stories and typed them on the typewriter.

I went off to college with a TRS 80 and a dot matrix printer and everyone was impressed. It was cool technology.

Now I feel like a dinosaur sometimes.

[Julie Worth]

What do you consider an old timer?

Compared to me, you mean? You'd have to put two spaces on either side of a colon!

[ResearchGuy]

. . .
(If you're really an old timer, and you've been using five spaces for indents, first put five spaces in the find box, and ^t in the replace box. That will replace all those spaces with tab indents.)
Allow me to recommend using paragraph styles (in Word, at least) to do that, not tabs. Those who are using Word and do not know about paragraph and heading styles should learn. Styles are essential.

--Ken

[rubarbb]

[Julie Worth;1495465]Compared to me, you mean? Compared to dirt... You'd have to put two spaces on either side of a colon! ????????????

[Enraptured]

I type so fast and so unconsciously at this point that I don't think I'd be able to train myself into double-spacing after each sentence. Thankfully, most of what I've read says it doesn't matter.

[rubarbb]

Thanks to all...

[Jamesaritchie]

Just write a story an agent or editor loves. Fill this story with good characters who all speak realistic dialogue. An agent or editor will darned near kill himself with glee.

Double space, leave adequate margins, and stop worrying about it. The minutia is silliness. No one cares. Not about indents, spaces after periods, styles, or anything else of this nature.

[Julie Worth]

But for those who would rather not get back to writing, the debate continues on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_stop#Spacing_after_full_stop

[rubarbb]

But for those who would rather not get back to writing, the debate continues on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_stop#Spacing_after_full_stop


The writing is done...

[Crystallin]

In regards to Chapter Headings. Are they Centered or Left Justified?