One space or two spaces after a period?

[CrAz3D]

Well?...I've always known it to be one.

[iago]

I learned two in school, then was forced to re-learn one when I was doing some "professional" writing. It can go both ways depending on which standards you're following.

[Blaze]

I do two, because that's what I learned in my business class when we did letter writing (for business). 

[iago]

Btw: http://forum.x86labs.org/index.php/topic,8578.0.html

I remember writing that when I was told to do one space after a period. Since then it's become a total habit.

[nslay]

I encourage you to learn LaTeX. It takes care of these details for you.

Code Select Expand


% Let's write an 'article' with formatting predetermined by 'document engineers.'
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{float}

\title{Bubble Gum}
\author{nslay}

\begin{document}

\maketitle
\date{}

\section{Introduction}
% Comment
Robots are cool. Everyone loves robots.

This is the next paragraph. It is indented for you.             White space   doesn't mean    anything.

\subsection{Special Introduction Stuff}
Only talking robots are really cool.

\begin{table}[H]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}
\hline
Talking & Non-Talking \\
\hline
2.3 & 1.9 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{Table of Robot Coolness Factor}
\end{table}

\end{document}


[MyndFyre]

If the period is to signify the end of a sentence, then two.  If the period is to signify an abbreviation, such as in a title like "Dr. No," then one.  No spaces if the period is "at the end of a quotation."  But, you follow the closing quotes with two spaces in that situation.  :)

[MyndFyre]

nslay, either you, or possibly iago's LaTeX interpreter, are a little off on LaTeX syntax, apparently.  :)

[latex]
% Let's write an 'article' with formatting predetermined by 'document engineers.'
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{float}

\title{Bubble Gum}
\author{nslay}

\begin{document}

\maketitle
\date{}

\section{Introduction}
% Comment
Robots are cool. Everyone loves robots.

This is the next paragraph. It is indented for you.             White space   doesn't mean    anything.

\subsection{Special Introduction Stuff}
Only talking robots are really cool.

\begin{table}[H]
\centering
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}
\hline
Talking & Non-Talking \\
\hline
2.3 & 1.9 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{Table of Robot Coolness Factor}
\end{table}

\end{document}

[/latex]

[nslay]

nslay, either you, or possibly iago's LaTeX interpreter, are a little off on LaTeX syntax, apparently.  :)

The forum software doesn't implement all of LaTeX.

Here's the resulting PDF as well as the source. The source is an exact copy of the code from my previous post.

P.S. To compile it

Code Select Expand


latex test.tex
dvipdf test.dvi


[deadly7]

If the period is to signify the end of a sentence, then two.  If the period is to signify an abbreviation, such as in a title like "Dr. No," then one.  No spaces if the period is "at the end of a quotation."  But, you follow the closing quotes with two spaces in that situation.  :)

MLA and CMS disagree with you. APA is the only style guide I've seen that advocates the archaic method of 2 spaces after a period.

[Chavo]

MLA didn't change to 1 space until a few years ago.  I've always used their guidelines. 

[Sidoh]

"archaic"?  I don't think that's a good word for this situation.

I use two.  The choice is completely arbitrary, and there are advantages to both ways.

[nslay]

"archaic"?  I don't think that's a good word for this situation.

I use two.  The choice is completely arbitrary, and there are advantages to both ways.

This is a waste of time. Writers should be focusing on content, not correct formatting. That's why I advocate LaTeX.

To stay on topic, I've always been taught two spaces. However, I always thought this and double-spacing provided the instructor space to write comments and corrections.

[Falcon]

I've always been taught and and used one.

[iago]

I  had nothing to do with the latex plugin, don't blame me! :P

[Sidoh]

"archaic"?  I don't think that's a good word for this situation.

I use two.  The choice is completely arbitrary, and there are advantages to both ways.

This is a waste of time. Writers should be focusing on content, not correct formatting. That's why I advocate LaTeX.

To stay on topic, I've always been taught two spaces. However, I always thought this and double-spacing provided the instructor space to write comments and corrections.

::).  You bug me.

We're not writing anything, we're having a useless and (mildly) interesting discussion.  There's no content to focus on.  No one is asking for advice on the matter.  I'm pretty sure we're just curious.

I  had nothing to do with the latex plugin, don't blame me! :P

hehe.  The plugin probably includes some boilerplate code with every piece of TeX it's passed, so the formatting is pre-determined.  For the sake of security, it probably blacklists some tags, which is why you end up with the mess up there.