How many spaces after a full stop

Kitty Kat Jac


Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 230

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:13

Hi I am currently in mid argument, can you please help. How many spaces should there be after a full stop??? Not wanting to sway your decission but it is two!!!

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:17

Hi Kitty,

Ettiquete dictates it's one, sorry.

flossie


Joined: 01/04/2007
Posts: 65

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:18

2 spaces after a full stop. Like this.



flossie

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:20

Or lots if you start a new paragraph.

Like this.

Notsoboredhw


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 1254

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:26

Yes two spaces definitely.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:34

There are different theories on this. There are three main conventions relating to the number of spaces used to separate sentences within the same paragraph:one widened space, typically two to three times wider than an inter-word space (traditional typography)

two spaces (English Spacing or American Typewriter Spacing) The two spaces convention was brought out by the use of monospaced font on typewriters, and carried on solely by tradition. Most fonts used in word processors since the mid 1990's have the correct spacing already adjusted, rendering the traditional double space after a full stop obsolete.[citation needed]

one space (French Spacing). I always use one space.

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:36

Impressive No1. I always use two though.



wyn

Kitty Kat Jac


Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 230

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:47

I dont actually think there is a right or wrong answer apart from I am always right of course. Thank you to you all, my point has been made.

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:47

When I was taught typing and secretarial skills it was definitely two spaces after a full stop and one space after a comma. That was, however, in the days of typewriters. I do still think that two spaces after a full stop looks better.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:51

No. 1



My Olivetti Golfball keeps jamming after a full stop. Or is that right?





ROB

SandyBlackCat


Joined: 12/07/2008
Posts: 55

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 16:55

City & Guilds IT. Two spaces after a full stop. Anything else is penalised. Must agree, it definitely does look better.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 17:04

Test.0

Test. 1

Test. 2

Test. 3

Test. 4

Test. 5

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 17:06

There you go!



There is a default in this scripting. I put in the appropriate number of spaces.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 17:06

i have but one question WHY ?

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 17:46

I have always used one.



However to throw cat in, how about the introduction of paragraphs with at least one CR between each para. Always makes for easier reading, usually do not read long unspaced postings.



Any comments. Please not the usual ones, they get a bit tedious!!!!!!!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:18

Thats a good Question Nige - Why?

smudge



Joined: 07/04/2008
Posts: 160

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:28

Always two unless a para then one and 2 carriage returns.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:29

One space these days... why? Because any more are surplus to requirements and slow down typing speeds.



One thing many newspapers used all capitals for the first word of each paragraph.... why is this done?



Tab indentation of the first word of each paragraph which is also common practice, is not practical here because the use of the Tab key does not work but merely moves the cursor to the next field... which is even odder because, if you check it out, it moves the cursor to the "characters left" field which makes no sense - as you can't type in or amend it...

Daisy


Joined: 22/09/2007
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:33

Being an old fashioned girl, I have to agree that it is definitely TWO - that is how I was trained back in the dark ages.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 18:55

Hands up who uses an analogue typewriter?



Anybody?



No?



Well then you don't need two spaces....



I love lots of fullstops though...

Chris and Sue


Joined: 07/08/2008
Posts: 272

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 19:07

it is two, did all my typing exams when I was a gal. So I am 100% sure



Sue

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 19:14

Sue what happened to the capital I at the beginning of your last first sentence. Shame on you. Oh and no full stop after 'sure'. Me thinks you need a bit of revision.

scampy



Joined: 15/01/2008
Posts: 982

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 20:33

When I took my RSA Typing exam it was 2 spaces

But that was a long time ago



Susie x

caroletavy


Joined: 03/07/2007
Posts: 143

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 20:52

Me too, definately 2 spaces, that would be on a non-electric typewriter then, where you had to put the carbon paper in to get a copy!



Carole

scampy



Joined: 15/01/2008
Posts: 982

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 20:54

Yeh I did that too

amd one space after a coma

Susie x

Chris and Sue


Joined: 07/08/2008
Posts: 272

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 21:17

Oops! Sorry AJ. It was about a hundred years ago when I sat the exams!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 22:11

When typing, I definitely think spelling is more important than the number of spaces...



Particularly as the space inserted when typing on a computer, as explained above, has been adjusted to make the use of a second one unneccessary.

millen


Joined: 29/10/2008
Posts: 5

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 00:02

Two spaces after a full stop, one after a comma.

Bonner


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 20

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 02:00

Having taught RSA secretarial skills and word processing for many years, there should definitely be two spaces after a full stop and one after a comma but providing there is continuity with spacing after a full stop then this would not be penalised in an exam.



If using blocked layout, ie blocked paragraphs as opposed to indented paragraphs then, there should be a clear line space between paragraphs, otherwise if a paragraph finishes at the end of a line then it is impossible to see when a new paragraph is started.

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 03:30

Bonner, did you teach me in the early 70's? You are not Mrs "B" are you? LOL

2 after a full stop and 1 after a comma or colon (including semi).

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 08:24

Bonner,



But.... all this strict adherence to the two space rule is still based on the use of mechanical typewriters which are largely obsolete these days... as has been previously explained, when producing documents with a computer typeface this is no longer necessary.



Old school Mavis Beacon skills have moved with the times...



Now we should be going back to writing real letters to people... how about those Marion Richardson writing exercises... far more useful!

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 08:35

I always use two spaces after a fullstop and one after a comma. I separate paragraphs with one extra line or when using word normally with half a line i.e. 6 points. Somehow it looks neater with half a line and looks smart to those who don't know how to do it

ismet

paula


Joined: 07/11/2008
Posts: 54

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 13:48

I am a trained secretary. I was taught the choice is yours, either 2 or 3 but you must keep it consistent throughout the whole document.

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 15:36

Groucho.... OMG - I had forgotten about the Marian Richardson exercises I used to have to do in school.

Bonner


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 20

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 20:13

Groucho



I did include word processing which is done on a computer usually using Word. The same rules apply as all word processing exams are based on the Royal Society of Arts, now OCR examinations.