Re: Spacing after a period...

[Mc Jdub <wigginje -at- PSSCH -dot- PS -dot- GE -dot- COM>]

My understanding is that two spaces after a period is incorrect when the
text is justified. Otherwise, it is a matter of one's preference and
sense of aesthetics (or not) -- though I believe the trend is toward
using one space.

Now, what's the rule for spaces before and after an em dash?


> ----------
> From:         Phillip Winn[SMTP:pwinn -at- S7 -dot- COM]
> Sent:         Wednesday, July 02, 1997 9:49 AM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Re: Spacing after a period...
>
> >> Which is correct? One space after a period or two spaces after a
> period
> >> before starting the next sentence.
> >>
> >> Since I've been exposed to DTP, I've been using a single space.
> I've
> >> recently come in contact with writers that still use two spaces.
> >>
> >> What are the rules if there are any? Does it depend on proportional
> vs.
> >> non-proportional fonts?
> >
> >I think you will find that this is the old way of typing, it was two
> spaces
> >after a period and one after a comma.
> >
> >But hardly anyone does this anymore.
>
> Umm, perhaps I'm being obtuse, but I don't believe the questions was
> "What
> do people do?" or "Why?" but rather "Which is correct?"  It is quite
> common
> for authors using DTP to use only one space to differentiate
> sentences, but
> in doing so, these authors lose sight of why two spaces were used to
> begin
> with.  In the early days of word-wrapping word processors, most
> programs
> were not equipped to deal with multiple spaces to delineate sentences.
> The
> first space would cause wrapped line, and then the second space would
> end
> up looking like an indent.  Hardly the effect people wanted to
> achieve.
>
> It is still quite correct and proper to use two space, and I don't
> just say
> that because I want to live in the past.  I'm 25, so I'm not an
> old-fashioned person normally.  Look at my first sentence.  It ends
> with a
> quotation mark.  The two spaces following that mark make it clear that
> I am
> beginning a new sentence, a fact that might not otherwise have been
> perfectly clear.  Even in cases of unambiguous punctuation, two space
> provide space that seems to relax the eyes of the reader.  With only
> one
> space, the sentences tend to run together.
>
> Try this experiment: Write a page both ways.  Hold them each at arms
> length
> at take a look at them.  Which looks more comfortable to read?  Take a
> look
> at any recent bestseller.  I guarantee you that they are not still
> using
> manual printing presses, but book publishers still generally (with
> exceptions) use two spaces.  Actually, book publishers tend to use
> about
> 1.5 spaces, but we can't all do that.  All of the rules in the world
> don't
> mean a thing if you don't like the results, but I definitely vote for
> keeping the useful and helpful tradition alive.
>
> Sorry so long.  One of my many pet peeves.
>
> |- Phillip Winn -|- Strategy 7 -|- vox 972.458.2817 -|
> |- pwinn -at- s7 -dot- com -|- Dallas, TX -|- fax 972.458.2218 -|
>
> ~~
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