It’s true that years ago, everyone used two spaces after a period and before the beginning of the next sentence. But these days, the rule is that all types of written material should use one space .
When did we stop using 2 spaces after a period?
While wide sentence spacing was phased out in the printing industry in the mid-20th century , the practice continued on typewriters and later on computers.
Do you have to put 2 spaces between sentences?
Always put exactly one space between sentences . Or more generally: put exactly one space after any punctuation. Here’s a paragraph with one space between sentences: I know that many people were taught to put two spaces between sentences.
Do you need 2 spaces after a period?
According to the AP Stylebook, single-spacing is correct . The same goes for the Chicago Manual of Style. However, the Modern Language Association Style Center offers different advice, and suggests that writers use a single space after a period unless they have been explicitly told otherwise.
How many spaces is needed before and after inserting a dash?
Sometimes confused with the hyphen, a dash comes between words as a form of division, whereas a hyphen generally joins words or parts of words to indicate a connection. When typing, use two hyphens together without spaces to form a dash. Do not put a space before or after the dash .
How many times should you space after a comma?
3. Place one space after a comma , a semicolon, and other forms of punctuation falling within a sentence.
What is two spaces after a period called?
(This is called a mono-spaced font .) With a typewriter, it makes sense to add an extra space to make it clear that the sentence has ended. Today’s word-processing software makes fonts proportional, though, which is why we only need one space.
How many spaces after a period is legal?
7. One or two spaces after periods ? There is a general presumption against double spacing after a period. When proofreading your writing, do a Ctrl+F search for “[period][space][space]” to get rid of any double spacing between sentences.
Do you space after a slash?
If the slash divides two words, there is no space . If it divides two phrases or sentences (or a single word from a phrase), it requires a space before and after.
Do you put spaces around a dash?
The dash (–) is used to set off additional material within a sentence, often in order to emphasize it, to set off appositives that contain commas, or to indicate missing words. ... When typing, use two hyphens together without spaces to form a dash. Do not put a space before or after the dash .
Is there a space after three dots?
Spacing. Whether you put spaces between the dots or not is a matter of style. The Chicago Manual of Style calls for spaces between every ellipsis point. The AP Stylebook says to treat the ellipsis as a three-letter word, with spaces on either side of the ellipsis but no spaces between the dots .
How many spaces should be between paragraphs?
Paragraph Indentation – Paragraphs should be indented 5 spaces or 1/2 inch.
Are there 2 spaces after a semicolon?
With a computer, use only one space following periods, commas , semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically.
Should you put 2 spaces after a colon?
Just as with the period, it used to be common to put two spaces after a colon, but now most style guides that address the matter (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) recommend using only one space after a colon .
Do you space after?
When a slash signifies alternatives between only two words, don’t use spaces before or after .
Are you supposed to double space after a period in MLA?
Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark, unless your instructor prefers two spaces . Whichever spacing you choose, be sure to use it consistently throughout your paper.
