TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Two Spaces After a Period??? -Reply From:Lisa Comeau <COMEAUL -at- CSA -dot- CA> Date:Tue, 19 May 1998 10:30:37 -0400
>>> Jennifer Hines <jenn -at- NDIGITAL -dot- COM> 05/19/98 10:07am >>>
Is leaving two spaces after a period now considered "old school"?
In my experience, Yes, it is.
It is also unneccesary as most word processors automatically space for sentences endings if you set it up in your preferences.
This was used mostly in the days when typerwriters were standard, but now with differences in font size and so on, the two spaces after a period will change in size with the font.
(For example, if your font size is 12 point, 2 12 point spaces will show bigger on the printed page than 2 8 point spaces, and so on.)
Lisa Comeau
IS Super-User/Trainer
Certification and Testing Division
Canadian Standards Association
178 Rexdale Boulevard
Etobicoke, Ontario
(416) 747 2597
comeaul -at- csa -dot- ca
