Laura K (NC) Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) When you finish a sentence with a period or question mark, how many spaces were you trained to type before beginning the next sentence? I was trained to hit the space bar twice. The teaching now is to put only one space between sentences. I just can't make myself get used to that. (PS, my typing class was in 1982. Old habits die hard.) Edited October 22, 2008 by Laura K (NC) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelda Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two spaces and wha wha whaaat? They teach one space now? :rant: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I was taught the same way, but adapted. The difference is between typing on a typewriter (2 spaces) or computer keyboard (one space). LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two spaces and wha wha whaaat? They teach one space now? :rant: I know. Recently I wanted to see if I still typed 70 wpm, so I took an online typing test. I flunked because I put two spaces and couldn't stop doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I work as a proofreader/copy editor for a homeschool email newsletter and both of the programs we use (Constant Contact and MODx) will not recognize two spaces following a period. That is one of my jobs - catch all the places in the copy that someone typed two spaces and replace them with one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) :) Edited October 22, 2008 by Dulcimeramy I was trying to test both styles for readability, but the computer corrected the "mistakes" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in S'pore Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I type two spaces, too. It just seems easier on the eye when reading... Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plucky Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Just one. I did two when I typed with a typewriter, oh so long ago. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherofjoy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 One space. I don't remember what I was taught back in the olden days of typing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I do two. It is funny since dh and I were just "discussing" this. He swore that they only required one now but I could not believe it. Why reinvent the wheel? I must be getting old..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two. Spaces. Here! I don't know that I could actually re-train myself to do it with just one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Maybe they teach it because the computers are programmed to make it one space. At least this board is fixing it when I type two spaces. I'm going to try it in word and see if it takes two spaces, be right back. UPDATE: I don't know anything about it, I guess. Word accepted two spaces. Edited October 22, 2008 by Dulcimeramy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shougmom Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two, ever since I learned in the early 80's. :blink: BUT, I don't see the difference in Dulcimeramy's test up there... :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I'm old, I was taught two spaces. (see how I backspaced and went to one space there?) I try to remember, but it's hard to kill old habits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 You young whippersnapper, you. I took typing in 1967, so there. And yes, we were taught to use two spaces, but I have adapted. Here's why one space instead of two: Back in the day of the typewriter, each space and each character took up the same amount of space. Capital W and lower case i were the same; a space bar space was a fixed size. You could take a ruler and draw 66 vertical lines on a page and there would be a space or a character in each. Two spaces after a period made a clear stop between sentences. However, you'll notice now that when you enter text on your computer, unless you're using Courier characters take up different space. Capital W takes up more space than lower case i, or punctuation. When you use your space bar, that space is not fixed; the software will make that space fit on the line--IOW, it can be bigger or smaller. Now, when you type two spaces after a period, that space is GINORMOUS, and it is unattractive; your eye sees it, even if you are not conscious of it, and it is distracting. If you're doing something "official," double spaces after periods shouts "I'M AN AMATEUR!" Even worse is when you don't single space, you don't hypenate words, and you justify the right margin. Oh, the white rivers that flow through your text can make a desktop publisher weep!:D If you look carefully at professional typeset printed materials, such as magazines or newspapers, you'll see that they all have single spaces after the periods. Our next discussion on page layout and design will be on why we no longer underline. Thank you. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 You young whippersnapper, you. I took typing in 1967, so there. And yes, we were taught to use two spaces, but I have adapted. Here's why one space instead of two: Back in the day of the typewriter, each space and each character took up the same amount of space. Capital W and lower case i were the same; a space bar space was a fixed size. You could take a ruler and draw 66 vertical lines on a page and there would be a space or a character in each. Two spaces after a period made a clear stop between sentences. However, you'll notice now that when you enter text on your computer, unless you're using Courier characters take up different space. Capital W takes up more space than lower case i, or punctuation. When you use your space bar, that space is not fixed; the software will make that space fit on the line--IOW, it can be bigger or smaller. Now, when you type two spaces after a period, that space is GINORMOUS, and it is unattractive; your eye sees it, even if you are not conscious of it, and it is distracting. If you're doing something "official," double spaces after periods shouts "I'M AN AMATEUR!" Even worse is when you don't single space, you don't hypenate words, and you justify the right margin. Oh, the white rivers that flow through your text can make a desktop publisher weep!:D If you look carefully at professional typeset printed materials, such as magazines or newspapers, you'll see that they all have single spaces after the periods. Our next discussion on page layout and design will be on why we no longer underline. Thank you. :D :lol::lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I was taught 2 spaces (late 70's). I was doing Mavis Beacon with ds11 and noticed that it had changed to 1. Thank you for telling me why! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamnkats Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 You young whippersnapper, you. I took typing in 1967, so there. Our next discussion on page layout and design will be on why we no longer underline. Thank you. :D (holds her head in her hands and sobs) No underlines????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Two, ever since I learned in the early 80's. :blink: BUT, I don't see the difference in Dulcimeramy's test up there... :confused: I'm typing with two spaces after my sentences, but only one is posting! Very strange. I guess spacing after sentences is like spell check in these modern times. I miss my dad's old black manual typewriter. Edited October 22, 2008 by Dulcimeramy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 And yes, we were taught to use two spaces, but I have adapted. Here's why one space instead of two::D Thank you for explaining that. I knew what to do, but I didn't know why it was necessary. RC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (holds her head in her hands and sobs) No underlines????? I have been noticing the absence of underlines. Somebody let me know when we cover this in class! Is the new thing that we don't underline book titles in online work, but instead we hyperlink to the title at amazon? When I was a page editor for our high school newspaper, we didn't have computers until my second year. X-acto knives, rubber cement, light tables, electric typewriters. That's where I earned my stripes. Somebody quick, link me to a book that will update me before I teach my children 1980's information!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (holds her head in her hands and sobs) No underlines????? No, dear, no underlines. Back in the day, when people had to actually write their manuscripts by hand or type them and then give them to the printer to be typeset, they would underline things which needed to be in italics. IOW, underlining something means "MAKE THIS ITALICS." Now that our computers can intalicize text, we don't need to underline. Furthermore, underlining is not very attractive. Descenders (p, g, q, y) are dissected by the underlines: p, g, q, y. See? Not attractive at all, and difficult to read, as well. And again, it screams "I AM AN AMATEUR." The absolute worst thing you can do is to make something bold and italics, *and* to underline, like this: Please don't do that! Bad. If you want to emphasize something, make it bold, or a different font, but don't underline. Please. (Hypertext is automatically underlined in programs like Word. When I'm doing a document that will include e-mail addies or Web sites, and Word automatically underlines that text, I just select the text and turn off underlining.) FTR, I am a semi-professional desktop publisher. I love to talk about this stuff the way you WTMers like to talk about clenching Latin or whatever it is.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Clenching Latin! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Ellie, have you a book? If not, can you please write one before next fall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 one space. Never heard of typing two! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Furthermore, underlining is not very attractive. Descenders (p, g, q, y) are dissected by the underlines: p, g, q, y. See? Not attractive at all, and difficult to read, as well. My 10 yo dd just told me this is why all her letters don't go below the line when she writes. She thinks it looks ugly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 one space. Never heard of typing two! That's 'cuz you're a young whippersnapper who didn't take actual typing in high school before home computers were invented.:D It was mandatory back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Ellie, have you a book? If not, can you please write one before next fall? You sweet thang! How could I ever follow in the footsteps of SWB!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabrett Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 My dd's school requires 2 spaces after a period. It was my understanding that if it was typed on a computer you only put one space. I'm confused as to why they require 2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaNY Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two spaces. I was *wondering* why it defaults to one space in my posts! Now I know. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I type 2. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 2 spaces and proud of it. *spits* Why, when I was a kid we had ta walk uphill, both ways, in the snow, carrying bricks... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 That's 'cuz you're a young whippersnapper who didn't take actual typing in high school before home computers were invented.:D It was mandatory back in the day. Mrs Moore... i can still here her walking around the room... "j k l . space space a d g" I was taught the same way, but adapted. The difference is between typing on a typewriter (2 spaces) or computer keyboard (one space). LOL. This is what i do - for the spacing reasons Ellie laid out. Hey Ellie - maybe this can be the one thing CA did teach right!?!?!?! (child of the whole word thing here). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I had not thought about this in years. Honestly, I guess I only type one now. Ha! I just did two. I remember those manual typewriter things. UGH! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 That's 'cuz you're a young whippersnapper who didn't take actual typing in high school before home computers were invented.:D It was mandatory back in the day. Actually, I did take typing in high school in 86 or 87. I have often said it was the most practical class I took! But I believe we were taught one space, however, I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Two of course or Mr. Moody the typing teacher will have a melt down and make you retype it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 When you finish a sentence with a period or question mark, how many spaces were you trained to type before beginning the next sentence? I was trained to hit the space bar twice. The teaching now is to put only one space between sentences. I just can't make myself get used to that. (PS, my typing class was in 1982. Old habits die hard.) Two spaces. Of COURSE! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam "SFSOM" in TN Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 2 spaces and proud of it. *spits* Why, when I was a kid we had ta walk uphill, both ways, in the snow, carrying bricks... :D Carrying our Selectric typewriter, you mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Oh and i'm guessing the board is changing them to one because of bandwidth issues. a space takes up just as much room as a character, so it makes sense for it to take them out. I always hated typing 2 spaces - i was thankful to jump on a computer and have Pagemaker tell me that it was wrong :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runamuk Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I grew up typing two spaces between sentences (I graduated high school in 1986, for reference. :) ) When I took typing in my community college class, it was 2 spaces. And I had a college professor who wouldn't even read a paper if it wasn't margined and spaced properly. Can I say how much I detested typing essays and papers? I'd always, always, always find a mistake on the first page that I would have to go back and fix. It was never just a mispelled word, either. I'd leave out a sentence or half a paragraph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I was taught the same way, but adapted. The difference is between typing on a typewriter (2 spaces) or computer keyboard (one space). LOL. I just finished a degree in '03, & it was still 2 spaces! It was an online degree! I. cannot. abide. change. It's RIDICULOUS!!!! (Yes, I mean ALL. CHANGE.) :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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