Should you use two spaces after a period, or just a single one?
Asked by: Kendrick Hayashi
2. 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.
Do you put 1 space or 2 spaces after a period?
Just one. According to every major style guide you’ll find, the rule is a single space after a period or any other punctuation mark you use to end a sentence. Even the APA, the staunchest defender of the double space over the decades, changed their stance on the issue in 2019.
Why two spaces after period is wrong?
Because we’ve all switched to modern fonts, adding two spaces after a period no longer enhances readability, typographers say. It diminishes it.
When did 2 spaces after a period change?
The two-space rule took hold in the early twentieth century and became the norm in many high school typing classes. Eventually, sophisticated typewriters and word processing software like Microsoft Word introduced proportional fonts, which made it easier to distinguish the period at end of a sentence as a full stop.
Does APA 7 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.
How many spaces after a period is legal?
Two Spaces
Against Two Spaces
One of his recommendations on improving legal documents is to eliminate the extra spaces. He explains that the use of two spaces between sentences derives from when everyone was writing on manual typewriters.
How many spaces should be after a period?
one space
Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark, unless your instructor prefers two spaces. Whichever spacing you choose, be sure to use it consistently throughout your paper.
How many spaces after a period in Canada?
However, major style books such as the Harvard Style Guide, the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, the Chicago Manual of Style and The Canadian Style, specify that there should only be a single space after a concluding punctuation mark. This rule applies to English and French.
How many spaces after a period is an abbreviation?
Two spaces
Two spaces follow an abbreviation at the end of a sentence that makes a statement. If the abbreviation ends with a period, that period also serves to mark the end of the sentence. If the abbreviation ends without a period, insert one to mark the end of the sentence and then leave two spaces.
Should we put space before and after?
With a computer, use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically. Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen.
Is there a space after three dots?
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.
What does 3 dots mean in text?
Screenshot/Tech Insider If you use Apple’s iMessage, then you know about the “typing awareness indicator” — the three dots that appear on your screen to show you when someone on the other end of your text is typing. Or so you thought.
What are the three periods called?
ellipsis
An ellipsis ( … ) consists of three evenly spaced periods and is used to indicate the omission of words or suggest an incomplete thought. In general, an ellipsis should be treated as a three-letter word, with a space, three periods and a space.
How do you use ellipses correctly?
Ellipses
- Use an ellipsis to omit information at the beginning and end of quotes. With quoted material, use an ellipsis to indicate an omission at the beginning, within, or at the end of a sentence. …
- Use an ellipsis to omit whole sentences in quotations. …
- Use an ellipsis in dialogue.
What is the difference between ellipsis and ellipses?
Ellipsis (singular) usually means three dots (periods or full stops) to represent the above omission. In other words, ellipsis means one specific punctuation mark composed of three dots. I deleted that ellipsis and replaced it with an em dash. Ellipses (plural, with an e instead of an i) is the plural of ellipsis.
Are ellipses rude?
When used in casual conversation, ellipses connote hesitation, confusion, and apathy — they’re the most passive-aggressive of all the punctuation marks.
What multiple periods mean?
An ellipsis is a set of three periods ( . . . ) indicating an omission. Each period should have a single space on either side, except when adjacent to a quotation mark, in which case there should be no space.
Can a sentence end with 2 periods?
No. A sentence should never have two periods at the end. If a sentence ends with an abbreviation followed by a period, do not add an additional period: She explained the rules for periods, commas, semicolons, etc.
What does it mean when someone puts periods after a word?
“We’ve agreed that putting a period after a one-word response in a text conveys something like abruptness, annoyance, negativity” This is the greatest research ever conducted on punctuation.
What does one period mean in texting?
The use of the period is one example of situational code-switching: When using one in a text message, it’s perceived as overly formal. So when you end your text with a period, it can come across as insincere or awkward, just like using formal spoken language in a casual setting like a bar.
What does 2 dots mean in texting?
An ellipsis (…) is used to denote that something is being left out of the sentence in formal writing, or someone’s voice or thought that is fading in informal writing. The two dots are used by people that don’t understand that there are supposed to be three dots.
Is it rude to use periods in text messages?
Save that punctuation for your emails or your next novel, it’s now considered rude or even passive-aggressive in a text.