Question about punctuation

[medjay]

I recall a long time ago being taught that two spaces go after a period/ question mark/ exclamation point at the end of a sentence. I've been doing this way for as long as I can remember and it's a reflex now.

Well, today I read in the new 15th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style that only one space goes after punctuation at the end of a sentence. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? What about all you guys? One space or two? And was this taught to you by a qualified English teacher or something you picked up on your own?

 

[MathGirl]

Two spaces

Dear MJ,
I learned it the same way you did, and I'm not likely to change now.
MG

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I've always used two spaces. Recently, I have come across some information that there's a shift to only a single space, because two spaces is antiquated and unnecessary with today's word processors. However, I like and am used to two spaces, so I continue to use them.

--SSBC

 

[Guest]

Me too, and I was taught by Catholic nuns in the 60's so I'm never gonna change. Need help diagramming a sentence?

I only used the Chicago manual when directed to by college profs for papers. Use your instincts or memory when in doubt.

cheers, Perdita

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

This "one-space, two-space" debate is a result of modern technology. Apparently, one-space is easier to electronically type-set and uses less space.

I've been slowly converting to one-space. If you use MS-Word, just tell the sucker to use one-space on all your new files instead of two. When you edit an old file, it'll show all the two-space sentence breaks as errors. Depending on the file's length, changing them to one-space is a smiple, if tedious, process.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[medjay]

I've done a bit of research the past few minutes and discovered that yes, the two space technique was the rule but is now considered obsolete due to today's newer word processing programs.

Also, it seems some publishers want manuscripts submitted in a one space format.

I guess they may be successful in teaching a new generation to use this method but for me tapping in two spaces is just about as natural as breathing.

Progress . . .

 

[medjay]

This "one-space, two-space" debate is a result of modern technology. Apparently, one-space is easier to electronically type-set and uses less space.

I've been slowly converting to one-space. If you use MS-Word, just tell the sucker to use one-space on all your new files instead of two. When you edit an old file, it'll show all the two-space sentence breaks as errors. Depending on the file's length, changing them to one-space is a smiple, if tedious, process.

I've been reading up on this whole thing for the past half hour. I had no idea it was such a hotly debated issue.

Now I'm wondering; since I'm in the process of writing a book (only a few chapters in but I've made a considerable dent in the project) should I consider the spacing after my sentences when submitting for publication? Do I go back and reformat the text I've already written and try to wean myself off the double space? Or do I continue with the process that I'm comfortable with and just cross that bridge when (and if) I come to it?

 

[Guest]

Medjay- Should you ever decide upon the need to do it, a fairly straightforward way to re-format your work in MS Word is by using the 'Find and Replace' tool.

Just go to the 'Edit' menu, and select 'Replace'. It's then fairly quick and simple to change every double space in your entire document to just a single space.

If you have a lot of varying instances of double spacing, for example after speech marks, semi-colons, full stops etc, you could write a Macro; to make the task even easier.

I hope this is helpful, and not too presumptuous of me, as you may have already known this!

 

[MathGirl]

Bottom line: I taught myself to type when I was ten, and there's no way I'm gonna retrain my thumb not to hit the space bar twice after a full stop. I may not be very old, but I reserve the right to be a reactionary fuddy duddy.
MG

 

[Never]

For those interested, two spacing was never necessary for word processors. Most typewriters require it though, even today.

 

[medjay]

I hope this is helpful, and not too presumptuous of me, as you may have already known this!

Yeah, I know I can easily reformat my text to single spaces. I was just wondering if I ought to try and train myself to do it while I'm typing.

I've decided no.

 

[SexySoBeChick]

I wouldn't bother reformatting the manuscript. If you're just submitting a printed version to publishers and/or agents, all they really care about is that it's readable. Standard format is New Times Roman or Courier in 12pt font and double-spaced (between lines, I mean, not sentences). Also, always begin a new chapter on a new page. If a publisher accepts your manuscript you'll probably have to submit a disk with your saved manuscript on it. At that point, they might want you to change some formatting things to suit whatever system they use, so I wouldn't go changing anything until you find out what that particular publisher wants.

--SSBC

 

[Guest]

Amen, sisters and brothers!

I find it irritating to read with only one space at the end of sentences.

b

 

[Guest]

Good for MG; be a fuddy duddy about punctuation, but do keep up with the latest in bikinis, eh?

Mz. Bikini, I'm with you. I don't see why with all the progress in technology one of those brainiacs can't figure out how to retain periods followed by two spaces. Jeezlahweeze!

Here on Lit. it aggravates me that my posts end up missing that one period each time.

Harrumph, harrumph. Perdita

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Do I go back and reformat the text I've already written and try to wean myself off the double space? medjay

medjay, for what it's worth, I did, but only when I was re-checking my mss for formatting errors.

Assuming you (and MG) use a word processor, there's no need to retrain yourself to use one-space instead of two. With MSWord, you can hit: Tools, then Options, and finally Spelling & Grammar. Near the top of that page will be a place that lets you designate how many spaces you want between sentences.

Now if you're one of those folks who can't type on a word processor without hitting a "hard carriage" return at the end of each sentence, then all bets are off. Me, I'm so lazy, giving up that habit was easy.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Wantonica]

I realize I'm playing martyr here, but when I look at all your posts, I only see one space. Yes, upon closer observation, there are two, but I've never heard that rule. Not in my years of schooling did they ever tell me that! Wow...

Happiness,
Wantonica

 

[Wantonica]

I retract what I just said. When looking at my post, it looks the same as the rest, and I only used one space. ???

Dazed and confused,
Wantonica

 

[KillerMuffin]

Interesting. The vBulletin usually removes spaces if there is more than one. Try it, you'll see.

I retrained myself to write with one space after periods. It wasn't that hard to do--even after 12 years of typing with two spaces.

If someone would have any information on training oneself to always spell the word privilege correctly, I'd be appreciative.

 

[TheEarl]

It was good typing etiquette because with a typewriter every letter is given the same amount of space. i and m both take up the same amount of page space, which mean that it can give the impression of a space before or after the i or j. The double space was used to emphasize the end of sentences.

Now that true-type fonts in computers have eliminated the extra space around narrow letters, it's not good etiquette anymore.

It's like the underline thing. It's not good typing etiquette to underline anything written on a computer, because the correct technique is to change the title to a sans-serif font and make it bold.

Now how many of you knew that?

The Earl

 

[Wantonica]

Earl,

You ought to write a manual on computer writing etiquette. You could even invent some rules of your own and be a pioneer in the topic.

KM,

I don't have any advice on privilege, but am wondering why the abbreviated form of refrigerator is 'fridge?

Happiness,
Wantonica

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

I don't have any advice on privilege, but am wondering why the abbreviated form of refrigerator is 'fridge? Wantonica

Well, if you really must know, it's similar to the reason many people in the US refer to a "couch" as a "Davenport." The first dominate, US brand of refrigerators was "Fridgedaire."

RF

 

[Wantonica]

Well, if you really must know, it's similar to the reason many people in the US refer to a "couch" as a "Davenport." The first dominate, US brand of refrigerators was "Fridgedaire."

RF

Oh, I get it now. Thanks so much Rumple.

Happiness,
Wantonica

 

[Guest]

The first dominate, US brand of refrigerators was "Fridgedaire."

Hey, Rumple, do you remember "ice boxes"? I do, and coal bins.

your senior, Perdita

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Hey, Rumple, do you remember "ice boxes"? I do, and coal bins.

your senior, Perdita

Never had to use either coal or "ice boxes" but I'm very familiar with the latter. Thanks to FDR and the TVA, although I grew up in the rural south, we had electricity. During the depression, however, my father used a model A truck to deliver ice. As for coal bins, just about everybody in my neck of the woods used gas or wood.

My wife is from NYC. When I was first meeting her family and would tell them I remembered a time when my hometown didn't have telephones, street lights, city water and sewage, TV, and only one paved road (main street) they'd look at me like I'd just come from another planet.

Rumple "the young'un" Foreskin

 

[deliciously_naughty]

I use two. And the chicago manual of style was still saying two when I wrote my thesis several years ago, so that's gotta be new.

I still use two and wouldn't change. I also require that when my students type a story for me that they put in the two spaces. As do my profs of me.

Shrug.

But then I generally don't worry what the chicago manual of style says except when it comes to footnoting, and only when I was writing something for publication or thesis credit.