Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: thought on December 01, 2011, 07:51:20 AM

Title: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: thought on December 01, 2011, 07:51:20 AM
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2011/01/space_invaders.html?wpisrc=obinsite (http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2011/01/space_invaders.html?wpisrc=obinsite)

this annoys me because i definitely remember being taught that you should always use 2.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: zach (Slag) on December 01, 2011, 07:55:46 AM
MLA says two.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Buckethead on December 01, 2011, 08:00:57 AM
Quote from: thought on December 01, 2011, 07:51:20 AM
this annoys me because i definitely remember being taught that you should always use 2.

I bet you were also taught to use capitalization, too.  ;)

1. So sayeth the MLA. (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)

Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Speedbag on December 01, 2011, 08:02:31 AM
I've always used one....
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: thought on December 01, 2011, 08:05:39 AM
Quote from: Buckethead on December 01, 2011, 08:00:57 AM
I bet you were also taught to use capitalization, too.  ;)

1. So sayeth the MLA. (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)



but that shift button is so far awaaaayyyyy.... haha
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: zooom on December 01, 2011, 08:30:36 AM
I.  don't.  know.  what.  you.  are.  complaining.  about.

is. it. really. that. big. of. a. deal. ?. ?. ?.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: DesmoDiva on December 01, 2011, 08:33:08 AM
Always 2, didn't even think 1 was an option.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Howie on December 01, 2011, 08:35:50 AM
I believe one space is technically correct, but two is now common and acceptable.  Obviously I use two ;D
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: MikeZ on December 01, 2011, 08:40:42 AM
I was always taught 2 was correct.  Even do it when I'm texting
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: il d00d on December 01, 2011, 08:50:56 AM
Always two.  There are a lot of debates about this on the interwebs, many point back to fixed-width fonts used on typewriters as the source of the rule - it was a way of making the end of one sentence and the beginning of another more obvious, visually.  Language and grammar is a fluid thing, but two spaces will always be right to me.

Something I wonder - has SMS, IM, Tweeting, and the proliferation of other forms of text communication improved grammar?  I ask this knowing that we collectively shit on our written language 160 characters at a time, but also knowing full well there is a grammar nazi on every forum, blog, etc.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: derby on December 01, 2011, 09:03:09 AM
Quote from: zach on December 01, 2011, 07:55:46 AM
MLA says two.

http://www.mla.org/style_faq3 (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)


How many spaces should I leave after a period or other concluding mark of punctuation?

Publications in the United States today usually have the same spacing after a punctuation mark as between words on the same line. Since word processors make available the same fonts used by typesetters for printed works, many writers, influenced by the look of typeset publications, now leave only one space after a concluding punctuation mark. In addition, most publishers' guidelines for preparing electronic manuscripts ask authors to type only the spaces that are to appear in print.

Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared with a single space after all punctuation marks, this spacing is shown in the examples in the MLA Handbook and the MLA Style Manual. As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor or editor requests that you do otherwise.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Stella on December 01, 2011, 09:08:34 AM
Wasted time debating this a few years ago when I was contracting with an ad agency. In copy, one is definitely the most commonly used.  Two just doesn't "look" right.  Font has a lot to do with that as well.

Having been taught to type by a 9-fingered typing teacher decades ago, I still hit the space bar 2x at the end of a sentence. But today, when I send an email or letter to a colleague, client, etc., I always use one. It just looks better - IMO.

One or two.  Neither is illegal.      Hell, because of the mood I'm in today, I'm going to use 4 spaces.

;D
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Grampa on December 01, 2011, 09:27:29 AM
if a plane occupies two spaces on a treadmill..... will it take off?
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: IZ on December 01, 2011, 09:42:22 AM
 [cheeky]



Btw...2 spaces!!!   This was writing "law" when i was in undergrad and grad school.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Scooter Montgomery on December 01, 2011, 09:43:01 AM
No, it just means the guy that parked it is the same jackass that uses two spaces to park his car at the mall so nobody will scratch it.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: r_ciao on December 01, 2011, 09:43:33 AM
Way back when I learned to type on typewriters, I was taught to use two spaces.  (I was also taught to spell out numbers less than 10, but that's another discussion.)  I still use two spaces out of habit, but here's a thought.

On my iPhone, when writing if you hit the space bar twice, a period will be automatically be inserted and the next letter is automatically capitalized.  Knowing how Apple seems to be taking over this world (at least my world), that gives credibility to using two spaces after the period.  That's my two cents.

Ciao!
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Howie on December 01, 2011, 10:00:32 AM
Quote from: bobspapa on December 01, 2011, 09:27:29 AM
if a plane occupies two spaces on a treadmill.  .  .  .  .  will it take off?

Fixed it for you.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: zarn02 on December 01, 2011, 10:29:15 AM
When I was taught typing (read: mid-to-late 90s), using two spaces before beginning another sentence never came up. When reading about it, I've generally seen it discussed as a relic of the typewriter age.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Buckethead on December 01, 2011, 10:43:00 AM
Quote from: r_ciao on December 01, 2011, 09:43:33 AM
On my iPhone, when writing if you hit the space bar twice, a period will be automatically be inserted and the next letter is automatically capitalized.  Knowing how Apple seems to be taking over this world (at least my world), that gives credibility to using two spaces after the period.  That's my two cents.

It does that on Androids too, but there's only one space after the period. It's just a texting shortcut.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Buckethead on December 01, 2011, 10:44:07 AM
Quote from: Buckethead on December 01, 2011, 08:00:57 AMSo sayeth the MLA. (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)

Quote from: derby on December 01, 2011, 09:03:09 AM
http://www.mla.org/style_faq3 (http://www.mla.org/style_faq3)


How many spaces should I leave after a period or other concluding mark of punctuation?

Publications in the United States today usually have the same spacing after a punctuation mark as between words on the same line. Since word processors make available the same fonts used by typesetters for printed works, many writers, influenced by the look of typeset publications, now leave only one space after a concluding punctuation mark. In addition, most publishers' guidelines for preparing electronic manuscripts ask authors to type only the spaces that are to appear in print.

Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared with a single space after all punctuation marks, this spacing is shown in the examples in the MLA Handbook and the MLA Style Manual. As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor or editor requests that you do otherwise.


Derby, derby.  [coffee]
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Goat_Herder on December 01, 2011, 12:58:21 PM
1-Spacers are the elistists who think they are better than the rest of us 2-Spacers.  They control all the extra room you save in a text with having 1 space after periods while the rest of us have nothing.  I saw we all go out to occupy MLA Handbook and show them how their greed for space between sentences has screwed the English speaking poplulation!

:P
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: thought on December 01, 2011, 01:36:55 PM
Quote from: il d00d on December 01, 2011, 08:50:56 AM
Something I wonder - has SMS, IM, Tweeting, and the proliferation of other forms of text communication improved grammar?  I ask this knowing that we collectively shit on our written language 160 characters at a time, but also knowing full well there is a grammar nazi on every forum, blog, etc.

no, but its' basically weaponized grammar for the art of trolling.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: ducpainter on December 01, 2011, 01:43:34 PM
I've used one since...

the beginning of time. ;D
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Pip on December 01, 2011, 01:47:37 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on December 01, 2011, 01:43:34 PM
I've used one since...

the beginning of time. ;D

There were four in that one post!  ;D [cheeky]
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: ducpainter on December 01, 2011, 01:49:08 PM
Quote from: Some Kind of Pip on December 01, 2011, 01:47:37 PM
There were four in that one post!  ;D [cheeky]
Four periods...one space. ;D
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: Pip on December 01, 2011, 01:54:23 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on December 01, 2011, 01:49:08 PM
Four periods...one space. ;D

You crafty ol' painter.  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: The Architect on December 01, 2011, 02:05:42 PM
[quote autho [wine]r=ducpainter link=topic=53943.msg995881#msg995881 date=1322775814]
I've used one since...

the beginning of time. ;D
[/quote]


Since the beginning of time?  I can understand not wanting to hit the space bar twice but when using a chisel does it really matter? 

; D




Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: ducpainter on December 01, 2011, 02:08:18 PM
Quote from: The Architect on December 01, 2011, 02:05:42 PM

Since the beginning of time?  I can understand not wanting to hit the space bar twice but when using a chisel does it really matter? 

; D





A guy gets tired ya know.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: TiNi on December 01, 2011, 03:19:23 PM
i make ads for a living, our copywriters don't get paid if they use 2... just sayin'  ;)
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: derby on December 01, 2011, 04:56:06 PM
Quote from: Buckethead on December 01, 2011, 10:44:07 AM
Derby, derby.  [coffee]

ah, i didn't realize that was a link.  ;D
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: He Man on December 01, 2011, 06:12:01 PM
im 23. i never learned how to type (because we were all expected to know how to use a computer) so i have never heard of one or two spaces until now.

in writing, there is no defined space between letters, just enough to know that its twolettersandnotone.


my grammEr and spelling is very elite.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: extra330 on December 01, 2011, 06:19:11 PM
It must be two spaces because my iPone automaticaly places a period at the end of a sentence when you press the space bar twice.  ;D
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: lazylightnin717 on December 01, 2011, 06:40:40 PM
I use two.   And they are always red since it's the fastest color
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: ungeheuer on December 01, 2011, 10:36:51 PM
I use two spaces after the completion mark of each sentence.  See? 

But I never use a "period".  Ever. 

I could go on, but I have to get my "Why do you call it a Period when its properly called a Full Stop?" thread started.

Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: brimo on December 01, 2011, 11:05:57 PM
Depends if you're typing in "m" or "k" mode.
Title: Re: One or two spaces after a period...
Post by: RAT900 on December 01, 2011, 11:50:18 PM


use lots off commas and periods in strings....as many  or as few spaces as suits your whim and whimsy

just say something worth reading

and no one will mind too much

unless it is in ALL UPPER case

and horribly littered with typo's and spelling errors