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Re: Two Spaces
Well, Dreamweaver use table layout and javascript rollover, so if I were you I wouldn’t care too much about it.
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Re: Two Spaces
hynkle: as bizartist said, the two-spaces rule is mostly a holdover from the days when most students learned how to type on a typewriter using a monospace font. Modern variable-width fonts and adjustable kerning have obviated the need for this. Again, professional typesetters (the people most likely to know this) have never had a hard rule for spacing, and it remains something of an art form.
Also, if you want a program which implements one of the more elegant spacing algorithms try LyX.
Last edited by ubernostrum (2005-08-11 05:25:10)
You cooin’ with my bird?
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#15 2005-08-11 08:41:35
- ian_ep
- Member
- Registered: 2004-02-29
- Posts: 25
Re: Two Spaces
Apparently just a theory. On my computer at any rate (using either Arial or Helvetica; don’t remember which), the space after a period is exactly the size of the one between words.
And so it should be! Readability-wise there is no reason to have a larger space after a period. On the contrary, the normal period-space-capital letter is more than enough separation to indicate sentence boundaries. Good modern typesetting will, if anything, reduce the space between sentences to achieve an even ‘colour’.
Others have pointed out that double-spacing is a throwback to typewriter days, but that is only half of the story. The mechanical typewriter was invented in the mid 19th century when it was common practice for typesetters to add spaces between sentences – partly because it is the easiest way to justify metal type – but mainly because they were paid by the line. Adding extra space after each sentence makes the text fill more lines, ergo more money at the end of the day! The argument that it makes the text more readable is just a red herring to throw off suspicious clients. The early typists obviously adopted this ploy since they too were paid by the line.
So if you’re not being paid by the line for what you write you can safely drop the double spaces. Your text will be more readable for it and look better.
Remember – follow the money!
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#16 2005-08-11 10:21:02
- hynkle
- New Member
- Registered: 2005-08-08
- Posts: 4
Re: Two Spaces
ubernostrum: Thanks for the link to LyX. I downloaded it and gave it quick whirl, and it seems quite nice. I’ll be glad to get to know it better in the future.
ian_ep: After reading what you said, I picked a few books off the shelf and looked in them. Sure enough, there’s no extra spacing between sentences. Most websites only have a single space. These books and websites never bothered me. I wonder what weird twist in my brain makes me notice it when I write, and no other time.
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