Always put
exactly one space between sentences
. Or more generally: put exactly one space after any punctuation.
Should there be 2 spaces between sentences?
The answer is
one
. Putting two spaces between sentences, as many people learned to do in school — and are still learning — thanks to early monospaced typewriters “is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong,” according to Slate's technology columnist, Farhad Manjoo — and every major style guide.
When did 2 spaces after a period change?
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) was the only style guide that overtly recommended two spaces after a period, and even that long-time holdout for two spaces changed its guideline to one space in its
2019 update
. The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA) waffles.
Should there be 2 spaces after a period?
Unless you are typing on an actual typewriter,
you no longer have to put two spaces after a period
. Or a question mark. Or an exclamation point. The rule applies to all end punctuation.
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?
1. Always place
two spaces
— no more, no less — after a period or other punctuation ending a sentence. This rule should be applied in all instances, including those where a citation follows the period.
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
.
Are there two spaces after a period in MLA?
Punctuation Spacing – Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark,
unless your instructor prefers two spaces
. View sample papers from the MLA website.
Do you put two 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 double space after a period in APA 7th edition?
In terms of mechanics, the seventh edition of the APA Publication Manual contains a variety of minor changes from the sixth edition. Two of the most important are the following:
Use one space after a period at the end of a sentence unless an instructor or publisher dictates otherwise
.
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.
How do you use a dash instead of a comma?
Em dashes can be used in pairs to replace commas when writing a parenthetical or interruptive phrase. The dashes have a slightly more emphatic feel, making the reader focus on this information that is set inside the special marks.
When should you use a dash?
A dash is a little horizontal line that floats in the middle of a line of text (not at the bottom: that's an underscore). It's longer than a hyphen and is commonly used
to indicate a range or a pause
. Dashes are used to separate groups of words, not to separate parts of words like a hyphen does.
Do you put two spaces between sentences MLA?
In the essay itself, the following spacing rules for punctuation apply:
2 spaces between sentences
.
1 space after commas
.
How many spaces do you leave after an exclamation mark?
Exclamation marks act as a full stop. An exclamation mark is most often used to show shock, surprise, horror or pleasure. As with full stops you do not put a space before an exclamation mark, but you do need
at least one space after one
(two spaces for purists).
