Double space after period creates forced paragraph

[AngelEyes1994]

So, here's what happens:

• I reach the end of a sentence and add a period.
• I double space to begin my next sentence.
• Because I am so near to the right hand edge of this message window, my cursor moves to the next line down for the beginning of the next sentence.
• This, thus far, is normal. It's your typical "word wrap" function.
• HOWEVER, for the past several months, doing this has caused my next sentence to become a separate paragraph, not the continuation of the previous paragraph.
• An example is this link from a story I am writing with DeadManTyping:
  • Notice that the second line -- "Don't you think?" -- is not a second paragraph.
  • But because I was at the right edge of the message window when I entered 2 spaces, a new paragraph was begun.
  • A second example -- "He now wore only his leather pants" -- is near the middle of the reply. This sentence is a continuation of the paragraph before it, not a new paragraph.

I do not believe this to be an issue with my computer itself. I believe I have had this same issue when typing on my Android phone. I could be wrong, however.

BTW, I typically correct these errors by deleting one of the spaces, but I left them in this time so that you could look at them.

I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is very annoying.

If you can't fix it, no biggie. But if you can, wonderful.

 

[KeithD]

One space after terminal punctuation. That's how the system here does it. That's how the publishing world does it. Two spaces was only during the comparatively short-lived typewriter era because the typewriter couldn't replicate printing standards (one space plus a bit of leading after terminal punctuation).

That's the way it is here and in the real world. It's not that hard to learn. You're not the format designer.

 

[AngelEyes1994]

One space after terminal punctuation. That's how the system here does it. That's how the publishing world does it. Two spaces was only during the comparatively short-lived typewriter era because the typewriter couldn't replicate printing standards (one space plus a bit of leading after terminal punctuation).

That's the way it is here and in the real world. It's not that hard to learn. You're not the format designer.

Thanks for showing such kindness in your reply, Keith. Oh wait, no let me read that again. Yeah, sorry, you're a dick.

First off, you didn't address the issue about which I spoke. The ONLY time this happens is at the end of a line in the message window. So, it's not a matter of whether or not I am properly using "terminal punctuation" correctly; it's a programming error that is causing new paragraphs ONLY when the double spacing occurs at the end of a line. It occurs ONLY at the end of the line in the message window, regardless of whether I am using full screen or not.

Also, using two spaces is still how writing is taught for good reason. It signifies the difference between the end of a sentence and other situations in which a period is used, such as as an abbreviation for Doctor, etc.

You may THINK it's no longer taught because you don't see double spacing in such places as newspapers, but that is only because newspapers -- and now some online publications -- think that saving just one space whenever possible will give them more space for things that will earn them money, specifically advertising.

Have you ever noticed that many newspaper leave out punctuation where proper English teaches it should be used, such as a set of three things? "I bought a ball, bat, and glove" is proper, but newspapers will write it "I bought a ball, bat and glove", simply to save one space. If you save 20 alphanumeric spaces in an article, that could be mean avoiding an entire line at the bottom of the article, which means more space for advertising.

I've spent enough time on explaining proper English to you, particularly since you weren't even addressing my issue.

 

[AngelEyes1994]

You know what, I came back to delete my message and say "Fuck you Keith", no longer caring to chastise you. But I see that -- for reasons beyond my knowledge -- posts in this thread cannot be deleted.

So, instead, I'm simply going to say do and say what you wish, because I am going to ignore you instead.

 

[ToPleaseHim]

Hello, English teacher here. Keith is correct that one space after a period is the standard and has been since the late 1980s.

 

[KeithD]

You know what, I came back to delete my message and say "Fuck you Keith", no longer caring to chastise you. But I see that -- for reasons beyond my knowledge -- posts in this thread cannot be deleted.

So, instead, I'm simply going to say do and say what you wish, because I am going to ignore you instead.

I took the time to answer your question--correctly, I think. I'm pretty sure you're the dick here.

 

[AngelEyes1994]

Hello, English teacher here. Keith is correct that one space after a period is the standard and has been since the late 1980s.

Jeez, is no one reading my question?

Fine, I'm wrong. Is that what you want? I don't care about that. I'm wrong, I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

What I care about is why this is happening, and it isn't because the new standard is 1 space. If it was, a new paragraph would start when I used 2 spaces in the middle of the message window. It doesn't, though. It only happens at the right edge of the message window.

So, since I admitted that I am wrong, no one needs to point that out anymore (even though I know that the assholes will, which is fine, because every time they remember this thread, they will remember what they are).

So, does anyone want to address my actual question?

 

[RejectReality]

Lit's text processor is more or less designed around Microsoft Word, I believe. ( And this is fairly common. It's not just here ) Anything else you use to produce the original text may have issues varying from none to the extremely annoying.

It's not clear here, but I suspect you may be directly writing in the submission screen? If that's the case, it's entirely possible it's something Lit can't fix, because there may be 3rd party software and license agreements involved.

I would highly recommend creating your original manuscripts in-house, and not depend on anyone else's servers or storage exclusively. That's a recipe for horror if something glitches just as you're saving a long string of work. It's the same risk on your personal device, but alleviated by being able to save periodically with ease, and commonly there are autosave functions as well.

( Aside: If this is has been the standard since the late 80s, it was either the really late 80s or word hadn't reached the boondocks yet when I was taking typing classes in 1988 and 1989. That only leaves May-Dec. of the 80s remaining LOL )

(Aside, Aside: If you plan to publish exclusively on the internet, and have zero plans to ever enter the eBook market, there's little need to break your habit of double-spaces. HTML automatically removes the second space unless that functionality is purposely overridden by the website designer. What emerges into the world in most cases will only have one space after terminal punctuation anyway. )