No double space after a period???

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by MinnieMouse, Sep 25, 2013.

  1. MinnieMouse

    MinnieMouse New Member

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    Hubby and I went to a get together with some church friends Sunday evening and through the course of conversation a highly educated man told my husband that there is no longer a double space at the end of a sentence. Can this be right?? I refuse to accept it!!! :lol:
     
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  3. Laura291

    Laura291 New Member

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    I cannot get used to it, but I've heard that too! Apparently when we used type-writers, the double space was needed. But computer word processing automatically puts a large enough space after a sentence for you. I also can't get used to it! :)
     
  4. crazymama

    crazymama Active Member

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    I still do 2 spaces, it's a habit.
     
  5. Mouseketeer67

    Mouseketeer67 New Member

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    I still use two spaces. Two of my kids professors said that both one and two spaces at the end of a sentence is acceptable.
     
  6. 2littleboys

    2littleboys Moderator

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    Yes, both are acceptable, but in professional use (like newspapers), it's 1 now. I still use two. I can't get used to it, either.
     
  7. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    I lost a lot of points during my undergrad program before I finally stopped double-spacing. It was a typewriter requirement and wholly unnecessary on a modern computer keyboard. But the habit remained for me. I did eventually, with enough negative reinforcement, stop double-spacing.

    According to the AP Style Book, and APA and MLA writing styles, two spaces is not correct format.
     
  8. azhomeschooler

    azhomeschooler New Member

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    Wow, thanks for the heads up. I had never heard that. I use 2, but guess I can cut back to 1. Now to retrain myself. I had to stop myself to think about it even typing this. It feels natural to use 2.
     
  9. crazymama

    crazymama Active Member

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    Now as far as "double spacing" as I'm taking Aime is talking about... I used to lose points because I didn't double space.. you know between the lines. I never remembered to hit enter errrr return :p twice..lol But, I still out of habit always hit the space bar twice at the end of a sentence.
     
  10. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

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    With almost every document today created using a computer, there's really no need. In business, I've seen a clear trend away from using double spaces. Only a few diehards maintain the practice.

    Habits, of course, can be difficult to break. Personally, I use the following convention: e.g., for this one; i.e., for that one. I doubt that I could stop using periods and commas in this way.
     
  11. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I learned it in 8th grade typing (NOT KEYBOARDING, lol!) class, and it drives me crazy that my kids don't do it!
     
  12. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

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    If I had experienced that in college, I would have flipped. Our work was graded for content, not trivia like that. Indeed, we had a couple of dyslexics in our physics classes, but it didn't hurt them at all.

    Of course, if my major was English, maybe it would have been justified.
     
  13. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    No, I meant at the end of a sentence. But I'm tired and wasn't at all clear.
     
  14. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    Content was half the grade. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation were the other half. It was like that the first time I went to college (1996-2000) as well. It doesn't matter what the subject is, all students are expected to utilize appropriate writing skills. Which is why the college's official method (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) must be followed regardless of the class.

    To be honest, I'm with the colleges on this one.
     
  15. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I think grammar, punctuation, etc. is equally important. What good is it unless you can communicate effectively?
     
  16. 2littleboys

    2littleboys Moderator

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    Yep... I agree. That should've been half the credit. I've done interviews many times in which I wouldn't even call an applicant who had multiple errors on their resume! To me, it just screams lazy. Disabilities or not, it's always best to have one (or two!) other people proof-read your work to make sure there are no errors!
     
  17. JosieB

    JosieB Active Member

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    Ah, a sign of the times. My mother let me type on a typewriter as a child, she taught me 2 spaces after a period. In computer/typing classes in school, I learned 1 space.

    This reminds me of the Oxford comma debate. I was actually taught BOTH to use and not use it, within the same school system throughout my public school education. That's probably why I sometimes use it and sometimes don't....
     
  18. Melanie Therese

    Melanie Therese New Member

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    I suspected as much but was trying to plug me ears and 'la, la, la' loudly enough to ignore it. I suspect I could retrain myself but I think it would be a very rough transition period.
     
  19. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    It took me close to a whole semester of, ahem, reminders (read: losing points) before I consistently remembered to not double tap that space bar. Thankfully, I could use the find/replace function in Word to fix an entire paper if I remembered once I was in the edit phase.
     
  20. Actressdancer

    Actressdancer New Member

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    Thankfully, we were given choice on the use of the Oxford comma. I can't fathom not using it.
     
  21. JaniceEckenroth

    JaniceEckenroth New Member

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    Yep, it's back to one space. In this era of computer/online content and digital publishing, character space is at a premium. I've been trying to break my habit for six months now, and still struggling too, don't feel bad!

    Janice
     

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