Spaces Between Sentences

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  • dust247
    MVP
    • Jul 2003
    • 3369

    #16
    Re: Spaces Between Sentences

    My English teacher said it's a MLA (format) rule to use two spaces after every sentence, but when I'm typing it's easier to just hit the space bar once.
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    • dkgojackets
      Banned
      • Mar 2005
      • 13816

      #17
      Re: Spaces Between Sentences

      lol at using two spaces

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      • poster
        All Star
        • Nov 2003
        • 7506

        #18
        Re: Spaces Between Sentences

        I have always used one, although I see people use two at work for professional emails and word documents. I use one space regardless.

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        • heelsman22
          MVP
          • Dec 2003
          • 1257

          #19
          Re: Spaces Between Sentences

          I use one when I type papers or on message boards or whatever, but the newspaper at my school requires that we put two spaces in our articles.

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          • davin
            MVP
            • Mar 2004
            • 2174

            #20
            Re: Spaces Between Sentences

            I have never heard of using two spaces after a period. Guess my teachers dropped the ball on that one, since it appears to be the thing that is correct to do.

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            • pk500
              All Star
              • Jul 2002
              • 8062

              #21
              Re: Spaces Between Sentences

              AP style, the style used for all newspapers and most published material, dictates one period between sentences. Look at any newspaper, magazine or professional online site -- you'll see one space between sentences.

              One might be the loneliest number, but it's the proper number of spaces to put between sentences. It drives me nuts as a professional editor and writer when someone submits copy to me with two spaces between sentences. It's incorrect. Thank God for the search-and-replace function in Word.

              Take care,
              PK
              Last edited by pk500; 03-08-2008, 12:51 PM.
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              • pk500
                All Star
                • Jul 2002
                • 8062

                #22
                Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                Originally posted by davin
                I have never heard of using two spaces after a period. Guess my teachers dropped the ball on that one, since it appears to be the thing that is correct to do.
                It's not. One space is correct.

                Take care,
                PK
                Xbox Live: pk4425

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                • Beantown
                  #DoYourJob
                  • Feb 2005
                  • 31523

                  #23
                  Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                  Originally posted by dust247
                  My English teacher said it's a MLA (format) rule to use two spaces after every sentence, but when I'm typing it's easier to just hit the space bar once.
                  From the MLA Handbook my professor had us buy this year (which I highly recommend for any English major/person who will be writing papers):

                  "Since word processors make available the same fonts used by typesetters for printed works, many writers, influenced by the look of typeset publications, now leave only one space after a concluding punctuation mark...As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks"

                  MLA format actually doesn't have a set rule about the spacing between sentences, all they say is "be sure to use it consistently in all parts of your paper."

                  Now, every example in the Handbook is done in "single-space" format, because that is the common rule these days. However, there is no set rule as to which one is correct in research papers and such. Publications will always ask you to use one space, however.

                  Oh, and don't forget that internal punctuation must be followed by one space, and not two.

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                  • Beantown
                    #DoYourJob
                    • Feb 2005
                    • 31523

                    #24
                    Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                    Originally posted by pk500
                    AP style, the style used for all newspapers and most published material, dictates one period between sentences. Look at any newspaper, magazine or professional online site -- you'll see one space between sentences.

                    One might be the loneliest number, but it's the proper number of spaces to put between sentences. It drives me nuts as a professional editor and writer when someone submits copy to me with two spaces between sentences. It's incorrect. Thank God for the search-and-replace function in Word.

                    Take care,
                    PK
                    In publications, yes, one space is correct.

                    However, by most standards (MLA, APA, etc) one or two spaces is perfectly fine in research papers and the like, as long as the same format is used consistently throughout the paper (meaning the actual paper and any Works Cited pages you may write).
                    Last edited by Beantown; 03-08-2008, 12:57 PM.

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                    • Hassan Darkside
                      We Here
                      • Sep 2003
                      • 7561

                      #25
                      Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                      I always put two until I got to college and my teacher started deducting points for it. Apparently 1 space is proper APA format and she claims she's an APA expert.
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                      • Flyboy
                        Daydream Believer
                        • Jun 2003
                        • 11352

                        #26
                        Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                        Was always taught two and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
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                        • ChaseB
                          #BringBackFaceuary
                          • Oct 2003
                          • 9844

                          #27
                          Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                          You can use two for certain things, but it's really an outdated practice (aka I think most older folks do it the two space way because it used to be more common). One is the right answer.
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                          • superjames1992
                            Hall Of Fame
                            • Jun 2007
                            • 31382

                            #28
                            Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                            When I write papers and such I was taught to use 2 spaces, and was told that it would be counted against me to use 1 space.
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                            • Hooe
                              Hall Of Fame
                              • Aug 2002
                              • 21555

                              #29
                              Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                              I was always taught to use two spaces between sentences for anything academic... now I'm thoroughly confused.

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                              • EWRMETS
                                All Star
                                • Jul 2002
                                • 7491

                                #30
                                Re: Spaces Between Sentences

                                Legal writing dictates two spaces. One space for legal citations.

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