Get the Answer to the "One" or "Two" Debate
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Getty_typewriter-56196007-56aa79155f9b58b7d0072fa2.jpg "If You're Still Putting Two Spaces After a Period, Read This Now (1)")
By
English and Rhetoric Professor
- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York
Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks.
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Updated on August 05, 2019
Put just one space after a period.
If you grew up using a typewriter, you were probably taught to put two spaces after a period (a practice called English spacing). But like the typewriter itself, that custom went out of fashion many years ago.
With modern word-processing programs, a second space is not only inefficient (requiring an extra keystroke for each sentence) but potentially troublesome: it can cause problems with line breaks.
In most cases, computers use proportional fonts so that a single keystroke creates the proper space between sentences. (When you're writing online, you'll find that many computer programs won't even recognize a second space.) In addition, there's no evidence that an extra space makes a document any easier to read.
Of course, if you're still using a typewriter, feel free to continue putting two spaces after a period. (And don't forget to change the ribbon now and then.)
Postscript: Spacing After Other Marks of Punctuation
As a general rule, put one space after a period,comma, colon, semicolon, question mark, orexclamation point. But if a closing quotation mark immediately follows any one of these marks, don't insert a space betweenthe two marks. Here's how that looks in American English:
John said he was tired. Mary said she was "knackered." I said I was hungry.
In British English, as a general rule,knackered would be in single quotes (inverted commas) and the period would follow the closing quotation mark: Mary said she was 'knackered'. In either case, don't insert a space between the period and the closing quotation mark.
"Spacing around the dash [or em dash] varies," according to "Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors." "Most newspapers insert a space before and after thedash; many popular magazines do the same, but most books and journals omitspacing." So choose one way or the other, and then be consistent throughout your text.
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Nordquist, Richard. "How Many Spaces Go After a Period?" ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/how-many-spaces-go-after-a-period-1691754.Nordquist, Richard. (2023, April 5). How Many Spaces Go After a Period? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-many-spaces-go-after-a-period-1691754Nordquist, Richard. "How Many Spaces Go After a Period?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-many-spaces-go-after-a-period-1691754 (accessed December 17, 2023).
As a seasoned expert in language and writing conventions, I can unequivocally confirm that the debate over whether to use one or two spaces after a period is a longstanding and often passionately discussed topic among writers, editors, and language enthusiasts. My depth of knowledge in English grammar, composition, and rhetoric positions me to provide comprehensive insights into the nuances of this debate.
The article by Dr. Richard Nordquist delves into the historical context of this debate, drawing attention to the shift from typewriters to modern word-processing programs. Having a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and English, Dr. Nordquist provides evidence-backed reasoning for the preference of using just one space after a period in contemporary writing. He points out the inefficiency and potential formatting issues associated with using two spaces, especially with proportional fonts common in modern word processors.
The key evidence supporting the one-space convention lies in the practicality and technological advancements of contemporary writing tools. Modern computers and word processors are designed to handle proportional fonts and automatically adjust spacing between sentences, rendering the manual addition of a second space unnecessary and, in some cases, problematic.
Furthermore, Dr. Nordquist highlights the potential readability issues posed by the extra space, emphasizing that there is no empirical evidence suggesting that using two spaces enhances document readability. This assertion aligns with the broader understanding in typography and design that excessive spacing can disrupt the flow and aesthetics of text.
The article also provides valuable guidance on spacing around other punctuation marks, such as commas, colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points. Dr. Nordquist emphasizes the importance of consistency in spacing conventions throughout a document.
In conclusion, Dr. Richard Nordquist's expertise in rhetoric and English, coupled with his extensive academic background, lends credibility to the advice presented in the article. The evidence-based arguments for using one space after a period, supported by considerations of efficiency and readability in modern writing contexts, make this piece a valuable resource for writers and language enthusiasts alike.
