Comments on: One space, or two? http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/ about the craft and business of fiction Wed, 23 May 2012 23:52:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Justin http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-122771 Justin Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:51:35 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-122771 one space. one space.

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]]> By: Andy http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120965 Andy Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:10:27 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120965 Sounds like quite a few people here don't care about evidence. Sounds like those who like two spaces don't want to change. I say this sarcastically, but lightly: I remember when you had to dial a phone, and then the phone changed to push buttons, and nowadays, you can even talk to your phone to make it dial. You can even use a computer to talk to people now. My guess is you folks still use dial phones. There used to be a time when people wrote letters and used the postal service. But the internet with its email took over that. Probably not for you folks! It's amazing that you even use a computer or write a blog. I mean, that's all new stuff, too. I remember in the 70s, we messed around with computers before they were actually useful. You know, for hundreds upon hundreds of years, people used horses to travel. Cars have not been around that long. Should we have been so quick to get rid of horses? It's funny what people accept and what they don't. Are we really arguing about one space versus two spaces? Do you really not understand that computers now compensate for that spacing issue that had to be done manually eons ago? Here's some proof for you. Did you know that you can go through a document, change all the periods from size 12 to 14, and the document size will increase? If that little pip can affect the length, what makes you think two spaces won't? Sounds like quite a few people here don’t care about evidence. Sounds like those who like two spaces don’t want to change.

I say this sarcastically, but lightly:

I remember when you had to dial a phone, and then the phone changed to push buttons, and nowadays, you can even talk to your phone to make it dial. You can even use a computer to talk to people now. My guess is you folks still use dial phones.

There used to be a time when people wrote letters and used the postal service. But the internet with its email took over that. Probably not for you folks!

It’s amazing that you even use a computer or write a blog. I mean, that’s all new stuff, too. I remember in the 70s, we messed around with computers before they were actually useful.

You know, for hundreds upon hundreds of years, people used horses to travel. Cars have not been around that long. Should we have been so quick to get rid of horses?

It’s funny what people accept and what they don’t. Are we really arguing about one space versus two spaces? Do you really not understand that computers now compensate for that spacing issue that had to be done manually eons ago?

Here’s some proof for you. Did you know that you can go through a document, change all the periods from size 12 to 14, and the document size will increase? If that little pip can affect the length, what makes you think two spaces won’t?

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]]> By: Sara J .Henry http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120937 Sara J .Henry Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:31:19 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120937 In typing class, people are taught two spaces. In book publishing, you use one. If your manuscript has two spaces after a period, just about the first thing the editor or copyeditor will do is use Search and Replace to change them all to one. To me, it's much more professional to submit a book manuscript with one space than two. You're saving the editor/copyeditor a step, and making it look like you know what you're doing. And, oh, that last comma in a series thing - it's called a serial comma. Some publishers use it; some don't. In typing class, people are taught two spaces.

In book publishing, you use one.

If your manuscript has two spaces after a period, just about the first thing the editor or copyeditor will do is use Search and Replace to change them all to one.

To me, it’s much more professional to submit a book manuscript with one space than two. You’re saving the editor/copyeditor a step, and making it look like you know what you’re doing.

And, oh, that last comma in a series thing – it’s called a serial comma. Some publishers use it; some don’t.

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]]> By: MaggiM http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120689 MaggiM Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:24:30 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120689 Depends on the context. For newspaper copy editing I used one because Chicago Manual dictated that. For school, I used two, because that's what my typing teacher taught me, and I had profs who marked one space as a punctuation error. Two spaces has carried over into business and personal. I confess I still tend to use the "no comma before last item in a series" from my copy editing days. For some reason it looks cleaner to me, but other people often correct it. Technically, I believe it's incorrect outside of news copy. Depends on the context. For newspaper copy editing I used one because Chicago Manual dictated that. For school, I used two, because that’s what my typing teacher taught me, and I had profs who marked one space as a punctuation error. Two spaces has carried over into business and personal. I confess I still tend to use the “no comma before last item in a series” from my copy editing days. For some reason it looks cleaner to me, but other people often correct it. Technically, I believe it’s incorrect outside of news copy.

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]]> By: KylieQ http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120500 KylieQ Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:38:20 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120500 Two spaces for me due to 1990s typing classes. However when submitting a manuscript, I check the guidelines to see whether the publisher has a preference for one or two and adjust (using search/replace) if necessary. Two spaces for me due to 1990s typing classes. However when submitting a manuscript, I check the guidelines to see whether the publisher has a preference for one or two and adjust (using search/replace) if necessary.

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120469 Kathleen Bolton Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:58:05 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120469 Ryan, major WORD. Ryan, major WORD.

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]]> By: Joanne McGonagle http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120467 Joanne McGonagle Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:46:27 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120467 I was a two spacer but Word kept insisting on one space. Left to my own devices habit has me leaving two spaces. Now that I have read this post, I will be diligent to leave only one space. Dennis typed what I was thinking about age. So after all the exercise, healthy eating, night cream, day cream, 100 SPF sunscreen, etc, I don't want my double space issue to give me away. :) Thanks for the post. I was a two spacer but Word kept insisting on one space. Left to my own devices habit has me leaving two spaces. Now that I have read this post, I will be diligent to leave only one space.

Dennis typed what I was thinking about age. So after all the exercise, healthy eating, night cream, day cream, 100 SPF sunscreen, etc, I don’t want my double space issue to give me away. :)

Thanks for the post.

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]]> By: Holly http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120435 Holly Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:08:11 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120435 I had to actually type something to find out! I am a two spacer by reflex. One space looks weird to me. I had to actually type something to find out! I am a two spacer by reflex. One space looks weird to me.

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]]> By: Dennis http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120430 Dennis Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:26:27 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120430 I'm a book designer and get infuriated by two-spacers. Not only is it necessary to delete the extra space for typesetting, but it adds to the problem of rivers on the page. Writers must be aware that it's not just their great, creative words that are read, but how they look on the page, even on a manuscript, for readers have sensitive eyes and if something is distracting from your words, your story could suffer. I also think is shows one's age a bit or maybe typing education has not evolved. I’m a book designer and get infuriated by two-spacers. Not only is it necessary to delete the extra space for typesetting, but it adds to the problem of rivers on the page. Writers must be aware that it’s not just their great, creative words that are read, but how they look on the page, even on a manuscript, for readers have sensitive eyes and if something is distracting from your words, your story could suffer. I also think is shows one’s age a bit or maybe typing education has not evolved.

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]]> By: Kelli http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120428 Kelli Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:06:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/07/13/one-space-or-two/#comment-120428 I was taught in high school to use two spaces, and it became a habit that I used all through college. I changed to using one space during grad school because of the proportional font issue. I thought it would be difficult to stop using two spaces, but it was surprisingly easy to remember to just use one. I was taught in high school to use two spaces, and it became a habit that I used all through college. I changed to using one space during grad school because of the proportional font issue. I thought it would be difficult to stop using two spaces, but it was surprisingly easy to remember to just use one.

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