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t_r_b
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« Reply #15 on: October 01, 2008, 02:51:10 PM » |
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You're giving me nightmares about my master's thesis. At the time I was also working for a newspaper. My editor insisted on one space; my advisor insisted on two. My poor typing fingers were so confused.
This is a classic example of the irresponsible and inconsiderate conduct of some graduate advisors: simply because they always used two spaces when they wrote their dissertations on a mechanical typewriter, they force innocent and powerless grad students to do the same, flying in the face of contemporary standards. This problem warrants more attention. Ms. Mentor should write a column about it. |
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If you want to be zen, then stay in the freaking moment.
A lot of the people posting on this thread need to go out and get kohlrabi.
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voxprincipalis
Foxaliciously Cinnamon-Scented (and Most Poetic)
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Has potentially infinite removable wallets
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« Reply #16 on: October 01, 2008, 02:55:15 PM » |
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One space has been standard for so long that I kind of can't believe we're actually having this discussion.
VP
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bibliothecula
Academic ronin
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like Bunnicula, only with books
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« Reply #17 on: October 01, 2008, 03:00:57 PM » |
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ONE.
Modern word-processing programs handle spacing issues much more elegantly than typewriters ever could. As an editor, I beg you to use only one. It is the standard throughout the publishing industry, despite what you may read in style manuals.
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I came. I saw. I cited.
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octoprof
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Life is short. Love your loved ones while you can.
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« Reply #18 on: October 01, 2008, 03:04:52 PM » |
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One space has been standard for so long that I kind of can't believe we're actually having this discussion.
VP
Then, why did my co-author use three so many times, and five once? Very frustrating she is. Maybe it's because she's in computer science? Or maybe her thumb has a twitch. ;-) I have tried to find the auto-space-after-period thing in Word and failed. |
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It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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stitch
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« Reply #19 on: October 01, 2008, 03:10:07 PM » |
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I have always been told 2, and I am on the young side (not yet 40). Where did this one space come from? I have obviously been living under a rock.
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big_giant_head
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« Reply #20 on: October 01, 2008, 03:12:07 PM » |
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Nobody uses three unless crack has been smoked.
According to the latest MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, "Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared with a single space after all concluding punctuation marks, this spacing is shown in the examples in this handbook. As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor requests that you do otherwise." Granted, this is directed to students.
As for me, I will stop using two spaces after a period when they pry my cold, dead fingers off the space bar.
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carthago can haz delenda
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infopri
I guess I'm now a VERY
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Posts: 17,917
When all else fails, let us agree to disagree.
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« Reply #21 on: October 01, 2008, 03:18:24 PM » |
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I have tried to find the auto-space-after-period thing in Word and failed.
Which version of Word are you using? It's there, I assure you. If you're using 2003, I'll go find the option on my husband's machine, which is running that version. And I still vote for two spaces. :p |
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if there's a next time, I'll remind myself I don't need to engage.
MYOB. Y enseñen bien a sus hijos. (with thanks to cronopio) |
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eumaios
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« Reply #22 on: October 01, 2008, 03:46:34 PM » |
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The real question is, how much longer will my 200 page dissertation be if I change it from one space to two?
No, no, no. That's not how to add length without content. Highlight the entire document and expand the character spacing by a tenth of a point from beginning to end. Then find the individual 'graffs in which the last line runs nearly all the way to the right margin, and add another tenth of a point of air to each of them. You can easily add 5 to 7 percent to a paper's length this way. If you have a ragged right margin, add a tenth of an inch to it. That tenth of an inch is too small to see with a ragged margin, but it will make a few paragraphs reflow so they gain a line. Heck, you should have no trouble getting that 200-pager up to 220 or 225 with a few computer tricks. And it's one space after a period, at least at every magazine and book publisher for whom I've done work. One space was the standard back in 1991 when I got my first part-time job editing. Two spaces is school-ma'am stuff. On real printed pages, there has never been a fixed, uniform amount of space after a period. The spacing in type for printing--or at least in good type for printing--has been proportional and adjustable since the days when it was made of metal. The space between sentences in a typescript didn't matter to compositors; their job was to make pages that looked better than typescripts. When in doubt, ask the designer/art director. |
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octoprof
Member-Moderator
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Life is short. Love your loved ones while you can.
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« Reply #23 on: October 01, 2008, 03:48:40 PM » |
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The real question is, how much longer will my 200 page dissertation be if I change it from one space to two?
No, no, no. That's not how to add length without content. Highlight the entire document and expand the character spacing by a tenth of a point from beginning to end. Then find the individual 'graffs in which the last line runs nearly all the way to the right margin, and add another tenth of a point of air to each of them. You can easily add 5 to 7 percent to a paper's length this way. If you have a ragged right margin, add a tenth of an inch to it. That tenth of an inch is too small to see with a ragged margin, but it will make a few paragraphs reflow so they gain a line. Heck, you should have no trouble getting that 200-pager up to 220 or 225 with a few computer tricks. And it's one space after a period, at least at every magazine and book publisher for whom I've done work. One space was the standard back in 1991 when I got my first part-time job editing. Two spaces is school-ma'am stuff. On real printed pages, there has never been a fixed, uniform amount of space after a period. The spacing in type for printing--or at least in good type for printing--has been proportional and adjustable since the days when it was made of metal. The space between sentences in a typescript didn't matter to compositors; their job was to make pages that looked better than typescripts. When in doubt, ask the designer/art director. This post is going to become the single most viewed post by students looking to lengthen their horrible term papers. |
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It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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octoprof
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 30,809
Life is short. Love your loved ones while you can.
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« Reply #24 on: October 01, 2008, 03:50:56 PM » |
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I have tried to find the auto-space-after-period thing in Word and failed.
Which version of Word are you using? It's there, I assure you. If you're using 2003, I'll go find the option on my husband's machine, which is running that version. And I still vote for two spaces. :p Yes, it's 2003. |
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It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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psychdiva
A tantrum-throwing
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It's a small kingdom but someone's got to rule it.
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« Reply #25 on: October 01, 2008, 04:01:39 PM » |
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PuncPedant
May I suggest Pun kPedant? It has a certain martial air to it, certain to scare away wusses and those taking a casual attitude towards semi-colons. |
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Specializing in nervous inquietude since 1986.
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infopri
I guess I'm now a VERY
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When all else fails, let us agree to disagree.
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« Reply #26 on: October 01, 2008, 04:10:44 PM » |
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I have tried to find the auto-space-after-period thing in Word and failed.
Which version of Word are you using? It's there, I assure you. If you're using 2003, I'll go find the option on my husband's machine, which is running that version. And I still vote for two spaces. :p Yes, it's 2003. Okay, found it in 2003: Select the "Tools" menu from the top of your screen, then select "Options" from the menu. Then select the "Spelling & Grammar" tab. In the bottom portion of the box that appears is the "Grammar" section. There you'll find a button labeled "Settings." Click the "Settings" button. The option to control the number of spaces after a period is the third item down in the "Required" section. It works the same way as the one I described in the 2007 version. |
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if there's a next time, I'll remind myself I don't need to engage.
MYOB. Y enseñen bien a sus hijos. (with thanks to cronopio) |
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prytania3
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« Reply #27 on: October 01, 2008, 05:29:43 PM » |
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Two spaces is old school. Now use only one.
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Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
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octoprof
Member-Moderator
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Posts: 30,809
Life is short. Love your loved ones while you can.
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« Reply #28 on: October 01, 2008, 05:31:27 PM » |
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I have tried to find the auto-space-after-period thing in Word and failed.
Which version of Word are you using? It's there, I assure you. If you're using 2003, I'll go find the option on my husband's machine, which is running that version. And I still vote for two spaces. :p Yes, it's 2003. Okay, found it in 2003: Select the "Tools" menu from the top of your screen, then select "Options" from the menu. Then select the "Spelling & Grammar" tab. In the bottom portion of the box that appears is the "Grammar" section. There you'll find a button labeled "Settings." Click the "Settings" button. The option to control the number of spaces after a period is the third item down in the "Required" section. It works the same way as the one I described in the 2007 version. Thanks! I was so looking in the wrong place! |
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It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Dumbledore
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michiexile
Mathemagician
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Posts: 79
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« Reply #29 on: October 01, 2008, 05:34:24 PM » |
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I use LaTeX - and it Does It Right. Spaces in general are ignored and condensed (as with webpages), but you can easily switch between "short" and "long" spacing after the period.
(and if you want a period with short spacing after it - such as in an abbreviation - there's an easy way to tell the typesetter about that as well)
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