I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do that has changed in recent years and most teachers and writing style systems now use only one space after each sentence. Apparently the rule was put in place because typewriter and early computer fonts were all mono-space and the additional space after each sentence made the writing easier to read. Am I the only one out there still hitting the space bar twice?
When did they change this?!?!
09/07/2010
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I think that changed more than ten years ago. Can't remember exactly when. I still hit the space bar twice though. Force of habit.
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do
...
more
I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do that has changed in recent years and most teachers and writing style systems now use only one space after each sentence. Apparently the rule was put in place because typewriter and early computer fonts were all mono-space and the additional space after each sentence made the writing easier to read. Am I the only one out there still hitting the space bar twice?
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09/07/2010
I used to - I was also trained in MLA writing (typewriter) and it took my ex-husband years to break me of the two-space habit. Finally went to one-space in 2007 while writing a crapload of 'Doctor Who' fanfic (not new series) on my laptop.
09/07/2010
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I graduated HS in 2000 and when I was writing research papers with my purple MLA handbook next to me, I know it was still the rule. As you can see, I'm not even making an effort to change the way I type at the moment. I'm still a little floored.
Originally posted by
Tuesday
I think that changed more than ten years ago. Can't remember exactly when. I still hit the space bar twice though. Force of habit.
09/07/2010
I have no idea when it happened, but I was told to single space after writing my first article last year. I was a bit surprised too. And actually I still double space quite often because old habits die hard.
09/07/2010
Just last year my teacher required this of me and another teacher took off points for not having two spaces after my period in college. I think it depends on who you talk to. Some teachers and people want two spaces between sentences and some don't.
09/07/2010
*nods*
I always used to get counted off for only spacing once after periods, because to me, it just looks better and more even with only one space. My OCD influences everything, yo. Finally my English teachers caved in and let me do what I want. Freshman year of college, I learned this is the preferred way of the instructors now. I was so happy.
I always used to get counted off for only spacing once after periods, because to me, it just looks better and more even with only one space. My OCD influences everything, yo. Finally my English teachers caved in and let me do what I want. Freshman year of college, I learned this is the preferred way of the instructors now. I was so happy.
09/07/2010
Five years ago my English teacher told us we had to have two spaces, but that was the first and last teacher to ever tell me that. Now being in my second year of college all my other teachers never stated it was "wrong" to have two spaces, but also never said we had to have them either. I know some students still do this to add a little extra space to their paper... It actually never occurred to me that there was this change. Interesting history with it too, thank you!
09/07/2010
I've never even heard of using 2 spaces.
09/07/2010
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You are not entirely correct, many teachers and professors still require this because it is required for proper journals to be published. However, some don't. I still do for my published works and potentially published works. So, really it depends on the audience. Asking for double spaces in reviews in not important at all to me.
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do
...
more
I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do that has changed in recent years and most teachers and writing style systems now use only one space after each sentence. Apparently the rule was put in place because typewriter and early computer fonts were all mono-space and the additional space after each sentence made the writing easier to read. Am I the only one out there still hitting the space bar twice?
less
09/07/2010
I always use two spaces, that's what I was taught way back in grade school. I really don't think it should make all that big a deal one way or the other, published or unpublished. Don't worry, you're not the only one out there!
09/07/2010
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Ditto. News to me.
Originally posted by
Coralbell
I've never even heard of using 2 spaces.
09/07/2010
I grew up with the two space rule after a period, question mark, exclamation point.
09/07/2010
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You're right, since 2 spaces is still an acceptable spacing style, some publications still require it while others have moved on to the the single space rule. Apparently either is still 'allowed', unless a publisher or other editing body requests otherwise.
Originally posted by
~LaUr3n~
You are not entirely correct, many teachers and professors still require this because it is required for proper journals to be published. However, some don't. I still do for my published works and potentially published works. So, really it
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more
You are not entirely correct, many teachers and professors still require this because it is required for proper journals to be published. However, some don't. I still do for my published works and potentially published works. So, really it depends on the audience. Asking for double spaces in reviews in not important at all to me.
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I find it odd that even the MLA says 'most publishers' guidelines' though. I would think there would be a more concrete stance on the subject.
09/07/2010
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I just remember discussions on the web and in print books at least 15 years ago about how unnecessary two spaces are.
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
I graduated HS in 2000 and when I was writing research papers with my purple MLA handbook next to me, I know it was still the rule. As you can see, I'm not even making an effort to change the way I type at the moment. I'm still a little floored.
I can't say when things "officially" changed. I guess that means changed in the MLA and other style books.
09/07/2010
I only really remember the two space thing in a few middle school english classes. I haven't done it in a really, really long time.
09/07/2010
Wow I guess that goes to show how old I am! I've never heard of only using one space!
09/07/2010
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Same here, and I'm grad school... maybe its because I use APA format instead of MLA?
Originally posted by
ToyTimeTim
Ditto. News to me.
09/07/2010
Newsflash for me too. I have to ask my sons what they have been taught in high school. I was taught 2 spaces & still use it today.
09/07/2010
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I remember learning the 2 spaces after a period rule from my parents and it was supported by my teachers through sixth grade, I think? But then in jr. high or possibly high school, my English teachers started teaching one space after each period instead. Now I'm used to the look of it, so I get confused when I look at reviews (or any piece of writing, really) that uses two spaces instead of one. Curiously enough, I don't notice it as often in printed text, but it jumps out at me in typed text. I don't have much of a preference one way or the other, but I use the one space personally.
Originally posted by
Tori Rebel
I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do
...
more
I was just looking over a review from one of my students and I mentioned the 2 spaces after a period rule and as I was trying to back myself up with all sorts of MLA documents and what-not, I found out that I was wrong! Apparently the rule to do that has changed in recent years and most teachers and writing style systems now use only one space after each sentence. Apparently the rule was put in place because typewriter and early computer fonts were all mono-space and the additional space after each sentence made the writing easier to read. Am I the only one out there still hitting the space bar twice?
less
09/07/2010
I've only ever known one space after a period rule, ever, since kindergarten.
09/07/2010
I was taught to use double spaces after periods in middle school when we learned how to type essays, but I can't remember if we used that method in High School. I'm pretty sure it was a teacher preference thing, because now that I think of it, I can distinctly remember having to consciously double space in essays for certain teachers.
I can't help but think "When I was your age, Pluto was still a planet!"
I can't help but think "When I was your age, Pluto was still a planet!"
09/07/2010
Total posts: 22
Unique posters: 19