Is There A Double Space Between Sentences?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

What is double spacing between sentences?

1. In text formatting, a double space means

sentences contain a full blank line (the equivalent of the full height of a line of text) between the rows of words

. By default, most programs have single spacing enabled, which is a slight space between each line of text, similar to how this paragraph looks.

How do you double space sentences?

To double-space the whole document,

go to Design > Paragraph Spacing

, and choose Double. Tip: To double-space only part of the document, select the paragraphs you want to change, go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, and choose 2.0.

Do you need 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.

How many spaces should be between sentences?

Always put

exactly one space between sentences

. Or more generally: put exactly one space after any 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.

Is 2.0 A double spacing?

A 2.0 value

will mean double spacing

. Remember that the double spacing will take place from whatever part in the text your cursor is positioned.

What do you call the space between words?

The space between words is simply called

Word Spacing

. Both refer to the adjustment of space between characters of type. Kerning Is Selective Letterspacing. Kerning is the adjustment of space between pairs of letters.

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.

Do you double space between sentences in APA?

Use one space after a period (or other punctuation mark at the end of a sentence) when writing in APA Style. However,

if your instructor or non-APA publisher has other requirements

(e.g., to use two spaces), follow their specifications. This guidance has been revised from the 6th edition.

When did we stop putting 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 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

.

Are you supposed to double space after a period in MLA?

The MLA Style Center

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.

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 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.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.