Fuck people who insist on TWO spaces between sentences!

[JanMichael]

That's old school typing course bullshit!__There is NO reason to do it today.__You only need one now with today's fonts and word processing.__Case closed.__Don't ever do it again.__It's annoying.__Please stop.__If two why not three mother fucker?___Yeah that's right three you stupid fuck.___Why not four then you grandstanding nut case.____Now that's just stupid...____You want more now do yah?____Five, that's it, FIVE spaces to show how much I care._____Now you see my point, right?_____You want six?______Now that's really a waste of space...

EDIT: OMFG! DU makes it ONE regardless of what you type!!!

[last_texas_dem]

1. I don't think I've encountered someone more wrong about something in my life.

I like putting two spaces, dammit! So there. haha

[JanMichael]

3. Yes you! You're wrong.

Period.

Waste of space that's what two spaces are.

[struggle4progress]

78. What do you do with all the spaces you've saved over the years?

I mean, it certainly is heroic, and I'm sure it's not as noisy a hobby as saving (say) an equal number of kittens would be

Still, all those spaces must add up over time

Do you have boxes and boxes of them in your attic?

[Lex]

4. Me either.

nt

[jmowreader]

32. Which explains why you typed two sentences with one space behind them.

[last_texas_dem]

42. It's the damnedable way the system does it here on DU

I put two spaces, they make it one.  Control freaks!  Plain
text to the rescue!

[JVS]

50. amen

[Pierre.Suave]

2. Whoa dude...

lay off of whatever you are on...

[JanMichael]

6. Beer. However I've run into this annoying habit recently at work.

It fucks up documents, and is totally wrong, so I'm trying to edjumakate people.

[last_texas_dem]

5. The trick

is to use plain text.  It will allow the proper two spaces to
appear.  Of course, it will also cause you to be suspected of
being a FReeper, so that's the downside...

[JanMichael]

8. There is no "proper" way!

One is practical two is a vestigial remnant of past communication devices.

[last_texas_dem]

11. But why were two spaces needed on typewriters but aren't needed on computers?

Honest question... I was in high school in the late '90's-early '00's, so I learned all of my keyboarding on computers, and not on a typewriter. I've stuck with the two-space rule for writing papers, e-mails, etc., because I think it makes what you write look less cluttered.

[JanMichael]

14. Spacing. Seriously this is the reason.

It stands to reason that many people continue to teach two spaces even today. They learned when two made sense and now with proportional fonts and word processing it now creates too much blank space.

Check out this description and reason:

http://www.webword.com/reports/period.html

[last_texas_dem]

21. Thanks for the information

I can understand the reasoning of those arguing that it is no longer necessary due to proportional spacing and the like.

I'll continue to do it just because I think things look better that way, but at least I now know why some consider it an unnecessary practice.

[kentauros]

65. Thanks for the link; I'll have to send it to some friends of mine

that insist on two spaces. One writer I have done some editing of his work and he was flabbergasted that I didn't use two spaces, nor that I was taught to. Well, honestly, I may have been, but the only typing class I had was in 8th grade on typewrters that were at least 40 years old then (think early 1970s.) I never liked that class, but it did teach me where to rest the fingers, even if I looked at the keys for decades after ;)

But if they did teach to doublespace after a period, it never sunk in and no one ever "corrected me" about it in subsequent years. So, I've typed a single space pretty much all the time I've been able to type, or most of my life. It's natural to me, and having had typography class as well as worked as a computer typsetter, it looks more natural to me. Two spaces just looks "wrong" and then there's the "rivers of space" to contend with.

Do book publishers/printers use two-spaces even today or are they stripped out?

[Rabrrrrrr]

69. No, no publishers print with two spaces.

It would drive people bonkers to do so.

And that's yet more overwhelming proof of how utterly wrong two spaces is.

[kentauros]

71. I agree about it driving people bonkers

;)

I find that the doublespace causes me to pause too long in my mind to keep the story flowing. I know someone that likes to write in an almost poetry form, instead of proper paragraphs. It breaks up the flow so much I simply can't read it. I've told him as such, but that's the "style" he prefers. So, I don't read his works and am left out. Then again, he won't read mine for the opposite reason, so I guess we're even ;)

[hyphenate]

75. A lot really depends on what font you are using

Until proportional fonts were used, Courier was the ONLY font around. And it is not a proportional font. It's clunky, though it does give a clear crisp page.

With Courier, ALL manuscripts were typed in it, and 2 spaces was the standard spacing between sentences. When other fonts began to be standard, some people switched over to a single space between sentences, though with some fonts, it still looks somewhat messy to have only a single space.

BTW, I was recently reading an article that said never to use Times Roman because it's such an ugly font, and I tend to agree. If I'm looking for a serif font, I will go with either Bookman or Century Schoolbook which look better in the long run.

As a secretary and administrative assistant, I was taught 2 spaces between sentences, and it's kind of difficult to switch over to a single space, even though I will do it if I consciously can.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

46. It takes more than that

TO REALLY BE PERCEIVED AS A FREEPER YOU HAVE TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS. NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOUTING. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CAPS-UN-LOCK KEY IS. ANY MORAN SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THAT KEY, I'M STILL LOOKING. THAT'S MY OFFICAL POINT OF VIEW

[grasswire]

7. you're right

And it takes a while to retrain yourself to use one space. Two spaces must be for academics these days -- does anyone else use them? I was retrained years ago when I started working as an editor. It's second nature now.

[mwooldri]

9. My typewriting teacher insisted on 3 spaces.

But I'm stuck on 2, it's an old habit that dies hard. So there.

[JanMichael]

10. Was he on acid? Three? Why not four?

Each sentence can exist on a separate piece of paper...

[JCMach1]

12. The OP doesn't get the concept of NEGATIVE space...

:)

[Mojorabbit]

25. But he does

get the concept of outer space. :)

[JCMach1]

26. LOL-- was teasing the OP anyway-- I had two freaking years of typing

and literally had TWO SPACES hardwired into my motor system.

I still can type pretty fast though...

[Duer 157099]

30. ... or is it "spaced out"?

Me, I'm stuck on the two-fer, it's old skool.

[yewberry]

13. Oh, I'm so with you. I edit dissertations.

No idea why, but none of the people I've worked with are aware of this convention. When I bring it up, they are always just completely stunned.

(Also, they seem to be blissfully unaware of the MLA and APA styles they are supposed to be using. Argh.)

[DS1]

15. HTML has stripped extra spaces for many, many years.

If that's any consolation. It's not just DU

[JanMichael]

16. True but Word does not.

It's really only work related experiences that bring this up. It happens all of the time. I take one space off they add one back on. It's ridiculous.

[DS1]

18. add two spaces to the list of words in the dictionary as a mistake

and have it auto-correct when they're typing. if they're still using two spaces, they'll never figure that out

[Pharlo]

55. Well, that will only work with someone who allows their computer to

automatically correct their typing. I use two spaces. And, the first thing I do with computers I use are turn off the spell check and grammar check. If I want either checked, I'll manually go into the menu and initiate the check.

[Fox Mulder]

17. I only used one space when I typed reports in college...

and none of my profs seemed to care. :shrug:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. But you're relatively young, right?

We older people were told in no uncertain terms that we had to leave two spaces after a period, or else the typing teacher wrapped our knuckles with a ruler...No, wait, that happened to someone else.

Oh, yes, we had the typewriters with the blank keys and a chart up on the wall, and we even learned how to change ribbons!

As college students, we dreamed of owning an IBM Selectric one day.

[Brigid]

39. Do you remember . . .

those old manual Underwood typewriters? :)

[JanMichael]

53. I'm 40. I used a typewriter in HS and college.

The difference might be that I was never forced to take a traditional typing class. Which after reading this thread seems like a good thing.

[Va Lefty]

20. If you don't put two spaces between sentences,

then the terrorists win. Why do you hate America?

[Nevernose]

22. It's "a vestigial remnant of past communication devices."

To quote one of your earlier replies.

That's why we spell knight with a k and a g and an h. And why we use an an with h.

The practical reason is that it makes thing easier to read. We know the difference -- quickly, easily, and subconsciously -- where and how to pause, and to what length or consideration something is given.

There's really no need to capitalize, either. But you probably can't read this, since you can only speak and/or read in Esperanto, right?

(And, as god is my witness, if you reply to this post in esperanto, I will literally shit myself)

[JanMichael]

24. Wrong.

Double spacing does not make things easier to read now it actually creates a visual diversion.

Sorry you don't see that.

[Nevernose]

27. Am I the victim of my own irony?

Damn you for pointing that out. The overall point remains, though. It's one of code switching. Just as we speak differently for different people, we write differently for different audiences as well. Also, I'm quite schnookered by this point in the evening.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. ok

I'll


stop


putting


two


spaces


between


sentences. Better?

[crimsonblue]

28. I am totally suing DU...

I want my right to two spaces back, damn it. snarkity snark snark.

[Godhumor]

29. Many writing guides for citations and bibliographies now include the one space rule

I used it as a graphic designer back in the late 90s, still use it today, and I know many academic institutions are now advocating for it.

Now to make em dashes acceptable in academic writing!

[davidinalameda]

31. I would ask about spaces after colons

but I'm sure I'd get some smartass response

:bounce:

[Kali]

33. no, do it - ask!

This thread is interesting. I was trained to do two spaces after the period and colon. I must be old. :-(

[davidinalameda]

58. so was I

and I still do when I'm preparing documents at work

[BarenakedLady]

34. I went to secretarial school.

It was ingrained. I overcame.

[zanne]

36. I took business courses in high school...

I took typing and shorthand. I still use the shorthand quite a bit, mostly when I'm writing down driving directions or taking a phone message.

I finally threw away my typewriter yesterday. Sob. It typed so many papers and letters, it was like saying goodbye to an old friend. I was keeping it for sentimental reasons but I decided that I needed the room more than I needed a typewriter.

[Brigid]

35. I am old school.

I actually learned correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar in that old school. I'll stick with that, thank you very much.

[JanMichael]

45. The point is that it is most definately not "correct".

Whoops should I have placed the period inside the quotation marks or on the outside?

[FloridaJudy]

57. Before the period

But after the question mark or exclamation point. I remember weird stuff like that.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

37. they are our overlords ...

http://www.vikingkittens.com/

[Deja Q]

38. Screw. You.

:rofl:

[SOteric]

40. Uhm... You know they're making some really good decaf now, right?

[Jamastiene]

41. That's because DU is slim, trim, and no bullshit is allowed.

One space, motherfucker. That is all that is needed. :evilgrin:

[JanMichael]

52. Heh. "one space mother fucker"

Heh.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

43. The issue really is....

...why do you fucking care so much?

[JanMichael]

44. It's work related.

It impacted my time. Hence I care.

[Rabrrrrrr]

47. Damn right! Two spaces between sentences is stupid, ugly, and makes reading more difficult.

No style guides - and this also includes the Bible of all typographic guides, The Elements of Typographical Style - suggest two spces after a sentence. Because it's fucking dumb, and distracts the eyes.

[JanMichael]

51. I think that we're in the minority on this thread.

Somebody that can should make this a poll to see if I'm right in that assessment.

That stated you are correct. It is fucking dumb and distracting. maybe not on parchment paper but with modern word processing it truly sucks. And I'm fucking 40, had typewriters, so it's not like I'm a tweener trying to change old dog tricks.

[Sweet Freedom]

48. It's the first thing I search and replace.

I'm a graphic designer and the first thing I do when I get client's copy is search for the double spaces and replace with one.

I recently read a book that had the double spaces. Very weird looking.

[AirmensMom]

49. Sorry.

You see, some of us went to school in the dark ages and learned that it is absolutely imperative to type two spaces between sentences. To not do so would be to add one error for every sentence. It wouldn't take long to hit the max on the errors that way and come up with a speed of about 15 WPM. Call us conformists if you must, but it was important to pass typing. You know how it is -- you have to choose your battles. It seemed like such a small thing at the time compared to other issues. After doing it this way for over 30 years, it is far too ingrained to be able to change. And, hey, we can do it the way we were taught and DU will fix it to make you happy. I sure hope this doesn't confuse all the kids in typing classes.

:shrug:

[Deja Q]

54. Oi, I'm 35 and still add the two spaces. Microsoft Word can lump it too.

:evilgrin:

[nuxvomica]

56. Two is better than none.

I hate seeing no spaces.  That really makes my eyes hurt.  Two spaces is ok with me.  I always just type one,   but I don't mind two.  

[Kitty Herder]

59. When you've learned to type that way, it's hard to stop the habit.

It's ingrained into the brain.

[Rhythm]

60. Myers Park HS?! That explains you completely...

Garinger class of '85... Go Wildcats!!!!
*extra imaginary spaces in there, just to annoy you!*

[JanMichael]

67. That's a weird one. I didn't attend MPH.

I actually graduated for a HS in Colorado. I think that my wife was doing a search on another site then accidentally inserted in my profile which i must have left open. This happened like 3 years ago but I've never removed it.

That explained the Grainger comment doesn't mean much to me. Is that in Charlotte to? Yes I could simply look it up myself but I'm naturally lazy. Which probably explains the one space not two.

[Rhythm]

72. k... nevermind... n/t

[CreekDog]

61. what am i supposed to fill the blanks with

your quiz is really confusing. :dunce:

[evlbstrd]

62. First thing we do

is we kill all the double spaces.

[5LeavesLeft]

63. I hate it when

people use repetition to make their sentences and paragraphs really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really
long to just to make people think they actually said something important.

[Ava]

64. are _ you _ joking _ or _ do _ you _ have _ anger _ issues

:rofl:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

66. bahahaha

^5!!

:rofl:

[JanMichael]

68. Both? I was joking but it was based on an annoying thing...

...that happened at work last Friday. Somebody was copying and pasting documents together and didn't catch that some single spaces were used and some single spaces were used. I had to change them all.

[Orsino]

70. If I'd known that that's all it takes to get fucked...

...I wouldn't have waited 'til senior year to take Typing.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

73. For all intensive purposes, you can type however you're comfortable irregardless of grammar rules

:)

[Deep13]

74. It looks neater in the finished document.

[astral]

76. Two spaces after a period EXCEPT before a carrier return.

Because . . . . it's just not JUSTIFIED.

[Skittles]

77. wrong

it's a courtesy for those of us with old peepers :D

[tjwmason]

79. Damned straight.

It drives me insane - I have to deal with several folk who put the needless space in; I fear that most of the time I ignore it, but there are times when due to the justification of the line the double-space turns into a gap of half an inch on the page. It's just so horrifically ugly.

[Perry Logan]

80. My father was a two-spacer...and his father before him. One-spacers are weak and puny.

[SmokingJacket]

81. yeah, I gave that shit up years ago. nt