©2003last updated August 12, 2003
Use only one space after periods, colons, exclamation points, question marks, quotation marks. In short, use only one space after any punctuation mark that separates two sentences.
How can this be? Yes, for years, you have been told to insert two spaces after periods, and on a typewriter you should. However, a computer with a word processing program is no typewriter!
On a typewriter all characters are monospaced, that is, they each take up the same amount of space. For example, the letter i occupies as much space as the letter m. Because the characters are monospaced, you must insert two spaces after periods to separate one sentence from the next. Frankly, your eye needs the “white space” to make reading easier, to help you distinguish one sentence from the next. Reading is made easier by variability of space. Monospacing results in no variability of space while two spaces adds variability.
On a computer, whether you are using a Macintosh or a Microsoft Windows computer, all characters are proportionally spaced. The only exceptions are the fonts Courier and Monaco. Proportional spacing means that each character only occupies the amount of space that it needs; and that space is proportional to the space occupied by other characters. For example, the letter i only occupies about one-fifth of the space occupied by the letter m. Consequently, the need for two spaces after punctuation to add “white space” to make reading easier becomes a moot point. It simply is no longer necessary.
Take a look at this example:
This paragraph, however, uses a font with proportional spacing. Each character takes up a proportional amount of the space available. Thus the single space between sentences is enough to visually separate them, and two spaces creates a disturbing gap.
If you still are doubtful, try this: Type the sentences above in your favorite word processor. Type the first paragraph in Courier. Then type the second in another font, say Times New Roman or Bookman.
Of course, this one-space rule applies just as well to the spacing after colons, semicolons, question marks, quotation marks, exclamation points, or any other punctuation you can imagine. Yes, this is a difficult habit to break, but it must be done.
Take a look at any magazine or book on your shelf. You will never find two spaces between sentences!
Now to address those who still believe the old two-space rule is gospel and the law, here is some documentation. Diana Hacker has written a number of reference books for writing. If you visit the Bedford/St. Martin's web site and do an author search, you can get a list of all of her texts. Here is a quote from A Writer's Reference, 4e (p. 349) talking about punctuation and typing using the MLA style:
… leave one space after words, commas, semicolons and between dots in ellipsis marks. MLA allows either one or two spaces after periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
When discussing APA style, she states the following about punctuation and typing in the same text (p. 375):
Copyright©2003
last updated
August 12, 2003