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.
Why do we double space after a period?
Two spaces were once the norm
Double-spacing after every period used to be standard. … A double space between the end of one sentence and the beginning of another
helped to create some uniformity on the page
, and made typed pages easier to read.
How do you automatically double space after a period?
Microsoft Word 2010 and later editions does not allow the user to put in two spaces after a period in any automatic way. You can set-up your grammar check to alert you when you have failed to place two spaces after a period. To do this, go to
File-Options-Proofing-Writing Style-Grammar-Settings
.
How many spaces should you leave after a period?
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.
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.
Are you supposed to double space after a period in MLA?
Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). … The font size should be 12 pt.
Leave only one space after periods
or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor). Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
How many spaces are between sentences?
Always put
exactly one space between sentences
. Or more generally: put exactly one space after any punctuation.
Should you put two 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.
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 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 I get rid of double spacing after a period in Word?
- In your document, pull up Find and Replace from the Edit dropdown menu or ⌘+shift+H.
- In the “Find” box, type a period and two spaces.
- In the “Replace with” box, type a period and one space.
- Click “Replace All.”
How do you get two spaces after a period in Word?
Scroll down to the “Punctuation Conventions” section, change the “Spaces Between Sentences” to “Two Spaces,” and then click the “OK” button
. This will make Word enforce the use of two spaces and mark a single space after a period as an error, keeping your writing consistent.
Are there spaces after ellipses?
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 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.
How many spaces is needed before and after inserting a dash?
(You can also have a space after the hyphen, but then you’ll have to delete
two spaces
. You can also type two hyphens. It does not matter as long as the sequence begins with space and hyphen.) Alternatively, insert en-dash from the Insert>Symbol menu.
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).
