People sometimes ask me how many spaces should be after a period at the end of a sentence.
The answer is one.
People who ask this question are those who first learned to type on a typewriter. They were taught to use two spaces, and it became a habit.
Years ago, typographers, the people who choose the arrangement and appearance of printed letters, decided that one space should be used after a period ending a sentence. The two space rule is believed to have started with the introduction of the typewriter. On a typewriter, each letter takes up the same amount of space, regardless of the shape of the letter (this is called monospaced type). Therefore, spacing can look uneven, and it can be difficult to see breaks between sentences; the use of two spaces was intended to enhance readability.
But there’s evidence that long before typographers decided on one space, two spaces were used; therefore, some people believe that the use of two spaces is correct. It’s also thought that the change to one space wasn’t because of typewriters but because publishers found it more economical to have less wasted space on a page.
Most major style guides have adopted the one-space rule. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, used in the social sciences, is one style guide that does recommend two spaces after a period in a draft manuscript; however, it recommends using just one space for publication. Do two spaces really aid readability?
I find the empty spaces created by the use of two spaces to be distracting. They’re holes that should be filled; they’re big, empty spaces that force my eyes and mind from the flow of the words on the page. I’m an editor. I read all day, and I’m not bothered by seeing just one space after a period. I like it.
I first learned to type in the 1980s on an electronic typewriter that used proportional fonts. So I never used two spaces, and it didn’t become a habit.
It can be difficult to change a long-standing habit. For instance, I once adopted the incorrect belief that I can’t start a sentence with a coordinating conjunction like and, but, and or; a teacher said it was wrong. Once I broke this habit, I never looked back. Starting sentences with these conjunctions creates more freedom in writing. It allows for changes in tone. Although it felt wrong at first, changing this habit was a good idea.
There’s an ongoing debate over one space or two. Rationales for both sides include aesthetics, readability, and comfort with a habit. Is it wrong to perpetuate an old style? Yes, if the style is no longer widely accepted. Language evolves and style does too.
Bottom line? Using two spaces after a period not only looks old-fashioned, it is old-fashioned.
If you want to publish your work, it’s a good idea to follow today’s industry standard of using just one space after a period ending a sentence. If you use two, think about changing your habit. You want your readers to focus on your message, not on your preferred style choice.
