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davester wrote:
This is surely one of the epic unsolved problems of mankind. I think the answer really is....who cares!? Some people have been trained to put two spaces after a period, probably based on their typewriter instructions. Others don't understand why that should be necessary since the computer should be able to decide the spacing after periods. There is no firm rule (you can find style guides that go either way) so the best thing to do is STFU and go find something else in life to turn your attention to.
Where is there an official style guide that says to use two spaces?
Teachers should teach the correct, preferred method, not what they want to teach.
According to the thinking in this thread, it's OK if a teacher teaches Intelligent Design because they like that philosophy, instead of evolutionary biology, the accepted standard.
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davester wrote:
Some people have been trained to put two spaces after a period, probably based on their typewriter instructions. Others don't understand why that should be necessary since the computer should be able to decide the spacing after periods.
No "probably" or "should" about it.
Those folks who don't understand why two spaces were called for when learning to type on a typewriter, might indeed think it was just a matter of taste.
Those who do know, understand why it's incorrect in professional typesetting and when using a computer.
(Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for standards of action. They're not all just a matter of fashion; not talking with food in your mouth for example.)
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I think that those of us who use two spaces after a period are "OK" with those who do not.
I wonder why those who only use one space are not "OK" with those who do not.
Why is that? Why is it a big deal to the one spacers? Why?
JJ
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JJ wrote: Why is that? Why is it a big deal to the one spacers? Why?
JJ
Tiny spaces, tiny minds.
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Although the tone here has started to get a bit nasty, we have really come full circle: there is no authoritative source. No one here claiming that this is a set rule, or that using two spaces is "wrong" can cite such an authoritive source. There may be style manuals or guides that say one thing or another, or allow either, but none of those manuals or guides are authoritative and there is some disagreement between them. The wikipedia entry, more info on the topic then anyone needs, reflects this history and lack of clarity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-spaced_sentences
Four main preferences exist today:
1. Some authors believe that text using double-spaces between sentences is more readable than text written with only one space after the period.
2. Some authors believe that proportionally spaced fonts have made double-spacing redundant, and that it should only be used in a monospaced (nonproportional) font. The argument here is that double-spacing was an attempt in a monospaced font to create the effect of proportional fonts' spaces, and that the ready availability now of proportional fonts renders a double-space redundant. However, the width of spacing in a proportional font width is nearly always narrower than an em space.
3. Some authors (particularly professional designers or typographers) believe that double-spacing creates an unappealing appearance.
4. Some authors believe best practice is dependent on the particular typeface being used.[34]
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This is surely one of the epic unsolved problems of mankind.
POMTL!
Teachers should teach the correct, preferred method, not what they want to teach.
I question the accuracy of the implication of "the correct" method. Preferred is self-explanatory and not a synonym for correct.
According to the thinking in this thread, it's OK if a teacher teaches Intelligent Design because they like that philosophy, instead of evolutionary biology, the accepted standard.
Now that's just obviously resorting to couching a deliberately specious analogy as valid argument.
I think that those of us who use two spaces after a period are "OK" with those who do not.
I wonder why those who only use one space are not "OK" with those who do not.
Same here.
We have rules so written communications don't descend into fractured, indecipherable chaos.
Ah, that explains the hysteria, panic, and sheer befuddlement when I submit my missives to others with the double space debacle.
Although the tone here has started to get a bit nasty, we have really come full circle: there is no authoritative source. No one here claiming that this is a set rule, or that using two spaces is "wrong" can cite such an authoritive source.
Agreed, on all counts.
Ultimately it *is* only a matter of convention. Typing ( or "keyboarding" ) in all uppercase, and also referring to it as "shouting"are matters of convention. Using uppercase letters in certain instances is a matter of convention. Using punctuation is a matter of convention. Convention is not the same as universal right or wrong. Convention can and does change over time. It's still only convention.
At some point, the extra space after a period was deemed (by somebody or body?) redundant, and was dropped. That is convention changing. Convention.
Some posters here use no uppercase letters and little or no punctuation. Except for those who might type in all caps or don't use paragraphs, I can deal with the chaos. After that, an extra space after a period is a walk in the park.
If I were currently in school and an instructor or professor took issue with my extra space and advised me it would affect my grade, I'd certainly adapt. Otherwise, it's just not worth the effort.
[I dislike the smilies.]
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Rivers & canyons are what we want to avoid.
A nice gray look, not splotches of white.
Avoid justified type if possible.
Look at a fine well-designed book and compare the text to your newspaper.
Harper, Borzoi etc.
Look at good typography in The Atlantic Magazine.
Fine typography preceded the typewriter by hundreds of years.
Have we discussed less space after a period or comma in an ad or broadside
where the designer can take a little time to tweak.
Read author/designers like Hermann Zapf.
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"Some authors (particularly professional designers or typographers)"
Sounds like the Wikipedia "author" is unclear on the definition of the word "author," or uses it so broadly as to be almost meaningless.
As one of those professional designers, I am not the author of the texts I work with. Neither is a proofreader, but we both are tasked with correcting the errors made by the actual authors of the texts.
The issue here is probably one of the downsides of the desktop publishing revolution of the 80s.
Prior to that, if you were an author, you typed out your manuscript (not a finished, printed, bound work,) then turned that over to professional editors, proofreaders, graphic designers and printers.
They edited, corrected, laid out, printed and bound your work into the finished product.
With the arrival of the (relatively) inexpensive personal computer, simple word processing software provided anyone and everyone with controls that had previously been limited to the professionals: leading, kerning, ligatures etc., but the vast majority of those using the software didn't have a clue as to what any of this stuff was, let alone know how to use it correctly (most still don't.)
Bottom line; it's like many things in life - from cooking to sports to surgery - time and experience has shown that certain ways of doing things yield better, more consistent results.
If you just want to be a duffer; do it however you like. If you want to be a professional, learn and adopt the successful techniques. :oldfogey:
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Best authoritative source might be whomever signs her check. ?
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