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.
When did 2 spaces after a period change?
In
the April 2020 update
, Microsoft Word started highlighting two spaces after a period as an error, and offers a correction of one space.
Should you put one or two spaces after a period?
Nearly all style guides agree that
one space is correct
.
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.
Is double spacing after a period wrong?
Typing two spaces
after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong
. … Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.” So began former Slate writer Farhad Manjoo’s infamous 2011 tirade.
How many spaces should go after a period?
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
.
What is two spaces after a period called?
Double-spacing
after every period used to be standard. Before computers and word processors were prevalent, most people relied on typewriters. Once considered an advanced form of technology themselves, older typewriters were known to produce uneven or unpredictable line spacing.
Does APA require 2 spaces after a period?
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.
Do 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.
How do I put two spaces after a period in Word?
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
.
Do you double space after a period MLA?
Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). …
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.
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 do I get rid of double spacing?
- Select the paragraph you want to change, or press Ctrl+A to select all text.
- Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing.
- Select the line spacing you want. …
- For more exact spacing, select Line Spacing Options, and make changes under Spacing.
How do you double space a paper?
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 capitalize after 3 dots?
If so, what follows is a new sentence, and it starts with a capital letter. If you think the ellipsis represents a delay within an as-yet-incomplete sentence, but you’ve decided you don’t want indicate that delay using some other punctuation (comma, semicolon, etc.), then just
continue the sentence without
a capital.
What are three dots in a row called?
You see those dots? All three together constitute
an ellipsis
. The plural form of the word is ellipses, as in “a writer who uses a lot of ellipses.” They also go by the following names: ellipsis points, points of ellipsis, suspension points. … Ellipsis points are periods in groups of usually three, or sometimes four.
