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 been involved in reviewing over 100 documents from fellow professionals. Some put one space after their full stops, others two. Honestly I really didn't notice. As long as it's consistent I don't think it's that noticeable.

I type at about 80 wpm now I think, I was taught two spaces about 40 years ago, don't think there's a hope in hell of changing that now!

I always do 2 spaces before a new sentence although I think I 'learned' that from email correspondence rather than letter writing.

I naturally put in doubles but when I am finished with a document I replace them with a single in one search and replace at the end bfore saving a final version. Quicker than tryingrying to train myself out of something that is very ingrained

Do whatever the house style is for work.

I hate double spacing

Im dyslexic and it makes it a bastard to read. Having an ongoing row with an old skool colleague about it at the moment, as to why her touch typing course circa 1972 trumps my ability to read the damn thing.

Every bone in my body is screaming two spaces. It's the way.
I can't for the life of me decide if I actually type this way any more though...
It was the way in 2000 when I did clait at college

@FeistyOldBat again I am in awe of your knowledge: first it was how to chase and charge CFN parking in your spot, now it’s the history of printing/typography. You are magnificent 😁

@squirrel Nutkin, if you are putting a space after a comma, and typing in English, you are plain wrong.

Double spaces after a full stop belong in the Dark Ages. Anyone doing it should be hanged, drawn and quartered.

It's a carry-over from typesetting when it looked nicer to have a distinct space between sentences, but with modern technology the kerning (the space between letters) can be adjusted specifically for starts of sentences, so unlike the old typewriter days, you no longer have to have two spaces.

@squirrel Nutkin, if you are putting a space after a comma, and typing in English, you are plain wrong

Is this a joke? Of course you have a space after a comma. You've literally done it three times in your own post. 😂😂😂

My first job out of Uni was temping in a typing pool (remember them!) and the head typist taught me correct grammar and that included double spaces. I can't not do it. I'm aware it's a bit old fashioned though so I usually correct myself when proofing.

I'm happy to let the Oxford comma die out out though!

Oh god! What a twit! I read that as ‘I add a space before a comma’ - ignore my post!!

It's how I learned over 20 years ago, and I find it impossible to break the habit even though I know it's old fashioned. Partly the change is down to word processors now adjusting spacing according to the space the letter actually takes up on the printed page, rather than old-style typewriter courier font, where the mechanism of the typewriter moved the paper across by the same amount for every letter, whether it was a "w" or an "i".

But the main thing is to use whatever the house style is for the publication you're aiming at. (I am doing this at the mo - god, it's painful. Never mind the two vs. one space thing, it's headed for an American publication, so I'm having to Americanise Americanize all my spelling, which pains my soul).

Love Oxford commas, btw.

Oxford commas can help to disambiguate some lists, so they serve a useful purpose. I find them difficult on the eye though.

I'm an unapologetic double spacer.

Oh god! What a twit! I read that as ‘I add a space before a comma’ - ignore my post!!

I did wonder after I posted if that's what you had meant! It made me chuckle though :D

Two spaces is now incorrect. I'm a copy editor and we even have software with a option to automatically take them all out.

I was taught that way in school some 30 years ago, but am pleased to say I've broken the habit.

I was reading a traditional newsletter the other day and noticed each new paragraph was indented. Old school.

head typist taught me correct grammar and that included double spaces.

I assume you mean punctuation?

I’m 32 and I double space. Single spacing looks untidy and unprofessional to me.

PrimalLass - oops, yes I meant punctuation.

I work in publishing and it's a no to double spaces. A few authors still do it and we strip them out. Seems to be an old fashioned formatting which doesn't really have a place with modern typesetting.

I was taught to do this in the 90s at school. I had no idea it was passé. It’s engrained in me now! I even do it in text messages and emails.

To those that work in publishing: I’m writing my first novel. Would I be better off doing single spacing? Would double spacing look unprofessional?

I’m left wondering if there are any other typographical or maybe even grammatical things I’m doing that are considered old fashioned!

Is this old fashioned!?
I was taught to type this way at school and it was definitely expected in our typed work at university. I'm 30.
I write a lot of scientific papers these days and the single space after a comma, two spaces after a full stop rule is usually somewhere in the style guide.

Plus Word corrects you with those wiggly little lines