Despite the title, this post isn’t about the song by the band Chicago; instead, it’s about a rule by The Chicago Manual of Style, one of the most respected style guides used in US English: There should be one space between sentences—not two.
There’s still an ongoing debate about the topic of spaces between sentences.
I’ve noticed some people aren’t merely confused about this rule, they just don’t like it—and they don’t want to follow it. (I first discussed this issue in this post.)
One space is correct: “Like most publishers, Chicago advises leaving a single character space, not two spaces, between sentences and after colons used within a sentence.”
What’s interesting (but not surprising) is that I’ve recently noticed that millennials are getting blamed for instigating this “new” one-space rule. They grew up with computers, so they’re puzzled and irritated by the two-space habit some writers have, and they expect everyone to use one space—but it’s not their fault.
The one-space rule isn’t new. It has been in practice since computers replaced typewriters—in the late 1980s, which was a long time ago. Although I’m not a millennial, I agree with them on encouraging the two-space users to start doing what is not only correct, but also expected: use one space.
It’s never easy to change a habit. It’s easier to find a reason to keep things the way they are. Maybe you think switching to one space will distract you from your writing. Maybe you think two spaces are aesthetically pleasing. But the fact is most of the Western world now uses computers instead of typewriters, so we need to change some of the habits we’re used to and evolve with the times.
I prefer one space between sentences. I find I can’t read as quickly when there are two spaces. It looks incomplete and disorganized—and old fashioned. Most important, I wonder why the writer is doing something incorrect, and this distracts me from his or her message.
If you prefer two spaces, remember the following:
- You don’t get to choose the number of spaces you want to use after a period.
- One space is correct.
- If you have to train yourself to use one space, that’s okay. It’s a hard habit to break.
If you insist that the old, typewriter-based two-space rule should be the industry standard, you can take your argument to the University of Chicago Press. But if you’re publishing (or sending any kind of written communication) in 2017, I suggest breaking the two-space habit, no matter how hard it is.
