One Space or Two?

One of my subscribers writes 'I can't hold my tongue any longer...not that that is fun or anything, I just had to tell you something! Just a tiny 'lil thing. You have 2 spaces after each period. Unless you are typing on an "old fashioned" typewriter, on a computer you use only one space. This is part of my business, graphic design. I hate to criticize but I know you want to be professional and that stands out. It creates a visual break in the copy making it like a stutter in reading. This is a common mistake for those not "in the field".'

I love that my subscribers are reading my copy carefully. My readers need this formatting tip to write their own copy. There's lots of contradictory information on www.google.com if you ask the question of 1 space or 2 spaces at the end of a sentence. Even though it isn't the subject of friendly mail, angry mail, or even 'thought you oughta know' mail, I am always open to tips from the graphic design side to help me improve my site.

Let's talk about the evolution of writing copy. I learned in Journalism School to use 2 spaces at the end of a sentence because we were taught to write using a typewriter. We didn't even think about the why, but adding that extra space at end of each sentence was simply for readability until the personal computer became a household word and changed all that.

It helps to understand the lost language of 'typewriterese', because the letter "W" takes up as much space as a "1" on the original typewriter. Skinny letters take less space while wide letters take up more space so the extra space added after each sentence make it easier to see where one sentence stops and the next begins.

Just like the computer today, the space- efficient Linotype machine was a revolutionary machine used by newspapers and print shops. The operator filled each letter and space with a line o' type cast in lead. Wedges were used for spaces, rectangles for letters. If the operator used 2 spaces or 2 wedges it gummed up the line o' type, so only 1 space was used. Of course, the publishing industry embraced 1 space long before that and continues to follow that rule.

A copyeditor at The University of Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style) thinks, "In our efficient, modern world, there is not room for 2 spaces at the end of a sentence."

Publishers want single spaces after periods. Most desktop publishers believe desktop publishing (electronic type-setting) should follow the commercial publishers rule, "One space at the end of a sentence."

Two spaces can cause problems with line breaks in certain programs. Web pages use only one space between sentences. HTML is set up to only display one space no matter how many are typed. A browser, like Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, will only display one.

Should sentences be separated by 1 or 2 spaces? Yes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

International copywriting trainer, author and speaker, Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero has been a freelance writer and journalist for over 25 years. Her words have made her clients hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now she focuses her vast experience on teaching others the skill of copywriting. Lorrie is the author of a highly acclaimed copywriting course, creator of the Red Hot Copywriting Bootcamp and founder of Copy Campus, a unique membership resource site designed to support copywriters and entrepreneurs on all levels. Visit her site to learn more at www.google.com.

professional maid services Park Ridge ..
In The News:

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.
ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.
ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.
Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.
DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.
Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.
The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.
New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.
Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.
New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.
Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.
Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.
New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.
The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.
San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.
FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.
Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.
Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.
Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.
Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.
The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.
Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.
Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.

The Online Writing Business Requires Constant and Regular Writing

Many writers do not understand that the online writing business... Read More

Dont Miss These 10 Must Know Facts About Promoting Your Website with Article Writing

Most all ezine publishers need fresh content. Article writing is... Read More

Where to Get Great Ideas For Your Next Article

There are times when I want to write an article... Read More

Increasing Web Traffic With Original Articles

The name of the game as far as Internet marketing... Read More

Discover How You Can Write an Article That Will Excite Your Target Market and Make You Money!

I am often approached and asked, how do I write... Read More

Ten Steps to Writing a Winning Top Ten Article

Have ever wished that there were a formula for crafting... Read More

How To Rank Your Articles Higher in Search Engines

All of us, the authors, know that to enhance our... Read More

5 Powerful Article Writing Tips

Writing articles is one of the most powerful, if not... Read More

Financial Planners Publicity - Increase Your Search Engine Ranking with Web Articles

The goal of free publicity is to get your name... Read More

Publish Article

If you've spent any time online trying to promote your... Read More

How To Write Best Articles

I've been able to distinguish 3 main categories that people... Read More

Using Anchor Text Optimization In Your Article Viral Marketing Campaign

What is Anchor Text Optimization?Anchor text optimization consists of the... Read More

Website Promotion: Alternatives to Article Banks

Writing and submitting articles to article banks is a well-known... Read More

Article Marketing: The Five Indisputable Rules of Author Bio Creation

Hey! Who's that I see, typing feverishly as brilliant ideas... Read More

How To Write Persuasive Articles

You may be wondering what persuasive writing has to do... Read More

Build Links and Your Brand: Article Marketing Delivers

Many online marketers have crowed about the value of writing... Read More

Writing Articles - Two Aspects Of The Surge

Writing articles for publication on the Internet is, at the... Read More

How to Write an Effective Article

Writing a great deal of articles myself, I see a... Read More

Writing Ezine Articles - 4 Reasons Why You Should Do It

Anyone who's been in the business for 2 or 3... Read More

Get Traffic to Your Web Site with Articles

It is not my intention to give you a 5... Read More

Recycle Your Work

Recycling your work is a lot like doing your part... Read More

How To Master Article Writing To Get More Traffic

If you are starving for traffic, can't seem to consistently... Read More

Promote Easily With The Two-Step

Here's a really simple way... to promote your online business... Read More

Drive More Traffic to Your Web Site by Submitting Articles Online

If your business has a website, you're probably searching for... Read More

The Real Reason You Should Be Marketing With Articles

Article marketing has become very popular of late, especially with... Read More

cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..