Using two spaces after a period or other end punctuation used to be a thing but nowadays the double space after a period has become irrelevant and is no longer used. When typewriters were created, the spacing between letters horizontally was uniform so that every letter had the same amount of space between them. FYI, this is called monospacing. Because of this, it was confusing to tell whether there was a space after a period, so two spaces were put after an end punctuation. And so, people were taught to type on typewriters and two-spacing became the norm.
When the 20th century arrived with computer keyboards, double spacing remained standard because it had been for so long.
But why the shift to just one space? A computer’s word processing software was able to adjust to proportionate space for each letter, so the double space after each period wasn’t required anymore.
So much for the history of spacing.
I learned to type on my mom’s little manual Smith Corona, first using my right index finger to push one key at a time and then adding the left index finger to gain speed. I learned how to type correctly in high school and for my high school graduation my parents gave an electric typewriter to me take to college. That little machine and I cranked out so many papers. And then came along the computer - no changing a typewriter ribbon, no feeding paper into the paper table and turning the platen knob to get a one inch top margin, no white out to fix typos, and a choice of fonts. What I would give to have that little manual typewriter! During all the typewriter transitions, I did the double spacing. That practice came to an end when I worked on my Masters. One of my professors who was a stickler in the APA format said that there was to be one space at the end of a sentence and she had an eagle eye to spot that spacing. She would be the one to review my final paper. No more double spacing for me. And now when I see double spaces, they look out of place.
Oops. I still do it.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's OK! I guess if you're writing for research or publication is when it makes a difference. Keep typing your way!
DeleteI never took a typing class, and I have no idea how my fingers find there way around the keyboard, but they do. Really amazing when I think about it. My parents has Smith Corona electric, my first one was a Olivetti with changeable type balls (I had three fonts.) Then a Panasonic with memory and spell check, I bought that in the early 80's and paid several hundred dollars for it. Spell check changed my life.
ReplyDeleteThat typing class drove me nuts. The pressure to type "x" words a minute to get an A was not fun. I missed it by a few words for both grading periods. I, too, have my own system of typing.
DeleteI struggle with this one. If I'm typing fast I still find myself hitting the space bar twice. If I'm going slower, I remember it's not needed.
ReplyDeleteJust do what works best for you!
DeleteI was told by my father that I was going to take typing in high school and I did, though I hated it. Little did I know then how much typing I would have to do as a journalist. My dad typed with only his two index fingers but he could go almost as fast as me. I loved to watch him. And though I realize the many advantages of computer keyboards, I still miss the clickety-clack sound of those old manual typewriters.
ReplyDelete