To not put a double space before a sentence?

[beeefcake]

Having a debate with a colleague who insists the correct way to type is with a double space before the start of each sentence within a paragraph.

To me this looks strange and is unnecessary with modern word formatting which naturally creates a slightly bigger space after a full stop.

AIBU???????

I have never done so or been asked to do so. I do a fair amount of writing in various contexts.

Two spaces between sentences is the accepted method.

Odd thing to argue about though.

Who does that? :S

No YANBU.

I was taught to put a double space too at school in the early noughties but at some point that just wasn't the way it was done anymore and now it would look strange.

I think those of us who learned using Mavis Beacon do two spaces and we cant change. #oldies But no, it not necessary anymore.

It's how I was taught at secretarial school 20 years ago. I do it when typing on a computer out of habit. Although oddly I agree it looks weird if I do it on this post.

Strictly speaking, they are correct. When I was choosing my GCSE options back in the day (I'm 44 now) I opted to take Keyboarding as I knew computers were going to take over the world.

One space after a comma and other punctuation, two after a full stop was a rule you had to obey, both for GCSE and RSA examinations.

As above, it used to be two spaces, but now one space is correct.

I was trained to touch type on typewriters and was told always to put two spaces after a full stop.

You will never budge me on this one, or on the Oxford comma.

@AdaLoveless Ditto. Protect the Oxford comma at all costs!

Single spacing between sentances looks unprofessional.

I was taught to put a double space by ‘old school’ academics. Then I went to work in publishing and it’s a big no. Spend time removing all double spaces from manuscripts

Two spaces between sentences is the accepted method

No, it's an accepted method, it's simply a house style question, very few publishers now follow that style, and I would say it's quite unusual, it's not right or wrong though, but if you're all writing the same documents you should agree a single style.

Two spaces is very old fashioned now.

I’ve been told double spaces were a side effect of some old typewriters having an issue with spaces (can’t remember what) but no idea if that’s true.

I was taught two spaces(and I'm 'only' 30!) but am aware it's considered unprofessional now.

Fucker of a habit to break though!

Windows products autocorrect to one space so that is now accepted as the norm.

You can tell someone's age by whether they use double spacing or not. Don't do it on a CV!

It was the accepted method at the time of electronic typewriters. It still works fine with some IT programmes, but causes problems with some others. As per Teatime's post, this can make a lot of work for other people to correct. It is not too late to change your ways!

A big part of my job is letter writing to clients (big, wealthy clients) and as such we have regular refresher courses on grammar, style, layout, tone, jargon alternatives and all the rest.

The most recent one I went on was about 2 years ago and they were still teaching that a double space was preferable and more professional. This is a major UK company employing thousands who employed an external communications company to do the training (who are also massive and well thought of).

I follow suit and always double space in letters/professional writing.

Two spaces used to be correct but is old, outdated and no longer correct. Time for your colleague to move on.

I work in publishing and two spaces is no longer the done thing. I think it may have had to do with paper restrictions during the war (perhaps also when double quote marks changed to single) but that could be bollocks.

I learned to do the double spacing when I was at secretarial school after university, but we learned on a typewriter and not on a computer, and I have a feeling it was necessary then as the spacing on a typewriter was different. On computers it's not necessary and I think it looks wrong now.

Teatime I was told that too.