The answer is one. Putting two spaces between sentences, as many people learned to do in school — and are still learning — thanks to early monospaced typewriters “is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong,” according to Slate’s technology columnist, Farhad Manjoo — and every major style guide.
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How many spaces are between sentences?
Always put exactly one space between sentences. Or more generally: put exactly one space after any punctuation.
When did 2 spaces after a period change?
In the April 2020 update, Microsoft Word started highlighting two spaces after a period as an error, and offers a correction of one space.
Do you use two spaces after a sentence?
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.
How many spaces should you put after the end of a sentence?
The rule applies to all end punctuation. Just one space.
Should there be 2 spaces after a full stop?
Typing two spaces after a full stop is wrong, according to Microsoft Word.According to the program, it’s a formatting ‘error’ to double space after a period. The practice comes from the days of the typewriter when equal-width characters of ‘monospaced’ fonts called for clearer sentence endings.
Does APA 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 full stop Oxford?
Two spaces
Two spaces after each full stop. Every time. Easy.
Do you put a space after a slash?
A. If the slash divides two words, there is no space. If it divides two phrases or sentences (or a single word from a phrase), it requires a space before and after.
Do you put a space before a period?
There should be no space between a sentence and its ending punctuation, whether that’s a period, a question mark, or an exclamation mark. There should also be no space before a colon, semicolon, or comma. The only ending punctuation mark that sometimes needs to be preceded by a space is a dash.
Are there 2 spaces after a colon?
Just as with the period, it used to be common to put two spaces after a colon, but now most style guides that address the matter (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) recommend using only one space after a colon.
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 legal?
two spaces
1. Always place two spaces — no more, no less — after a period or other punctuation ending a sentence. This rule should be applied in all instances, including those where a citation follows the period.
What does 2 periods mean in texting?
It is used to indicate a break: either a break in thought, or a break in communication medium (text, email, etc.) where the same thought will be continued in. The two dot ellipsis is not an official punctuation.
How many spaces should be left before and after typing a hyphen?
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.
How many spaces should there be after a paragraph?
As with first-line indents, you want the space to be large enough to be easily noticed, but not so large that the paragraphs seem disconnected. A space equal to 50–100% of the body text size will usually suffice. The larger the point size, the more space you’ll need between paragraphs to make a visible difference.
Why do lawyers double space?
He explains that the use of two spaces between sentences derives from when everyone was writing on manual typewriters. Due to how typewriters handled proportionate spacing, it was easier to read typewritten documents which placed two periods between sentences.
Do you put space after Mr?
British usage favours omitting the full stop in abbreviations which include the first and last letters of a single word, such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr and St; American usage prefers (A) Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr. and St., with full stops. Most other abbreviated titles, however, require a full stop, as shown above.
Do I need a space after P?
1 Answer. MLA and APA, although not explicitly outlined anywhere I can find, use a space after “p.“/”pp.”.
Is APA 7 Double space after a period?
A manual directs authors to use two spaces after a period (American Psychological Association, 2010, p.Washington, DC: Author. APA 7th Edition. The APA manual directs authors to use one space after a period (American Psychological Association, 2020, p.
How many spaces go after a period in MLA?
one space
Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor). Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.