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Ask Judy Question #5
Dear Judy: Our new office manager put out a memo that all typing for the company will have one space only between the end of a sentence and the beginning of another. I was taught that one used two spaces, and I'm ready to fly apart. I just can't do it, and I'm too old to learn!! Who is right?
Signed...Flying Apart in Fresno
Responses by Judy Vorfeld and Claudia Slate
Dear Frequent Flyer: The subject of using one space or two between sentences, especially for people used to typing exclusively on typewriters, often creates colorful conflict. Your office is a perfect example.
Here's the history: when monospace (fixed-pitch) fonts, like Courier, were in wide use, it was traditional to leave two spaces between the period and the start of the next sentence. There were definite rules for people who typed documents.
The rules have changed. Today we generally use proportional fonts (in which the width of the characters varies). Monospace fonts are more often used in databases, tables, etc.
Here's the latest commonly accepted standard in the world of typography: choose one space as a rule unless two spaces are needed to create an adequate visual break between sentences.
There are exceptions, Frequent Flyer. When the fonts are quite small (for example, a 9-10pt serif font like Times New Roman), using only one space after the period may not always provide a clear visual break between sentences. Generally a larger point size does provide that visual break. When in doubt, use your own judgment. Yes, I know. You don't have any choice.
There's always a way to work around your problems. And you're never too old to learn. I'm living proof of that trite but true phrase.
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From Claudia Slate, Dakota Technics
Dear Flying Apart in Fresno: Your new office manager is obviously a PHB, (Pointy Head Boss – see dilbert.com), who is more concerned about asserting his/her presumed power than actually doing work.
As the point of typing is to assist in the communication of writing and the importance of writing is to communicate some thought, word, idea, proposal, feeling, dream, command, etc., typing it in a manner that makes the communication easy to read and understand, (where possible), is what matters. Even with proportional typefaces, two spaces between sentences simply makes text easier to read. With more writing being done on-line and through email, where some consider reading more difficult, this remains an important issue.
Luckily there is a way to escape the PHB. Just go to http://www.freeagentnation.com/, buy the book and join the revolution. Down with PHBs! Up with Free Agents!
Living Free on the Plains,
Claudia Slate
Dakota Technics
mailto:daktech@gwtc.ne
www.dakotatechnics.com
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