There was a time when the rhythm:
TakkaTakkaTakkaTakkaTak KthunkKthunk
was what you grooved to when you typed. It was a rhythm that felt right as you created your missive, or term paper, or maybe the next great novel/short story/grocery list. If this sounds familiar to you, chances are you learned how to type on a manual or electric typewriter; those mysterious, sometimes beautiful machines that gave a very satisfying musicality to your typing. You were the Beethoven of the typewriter thanks to Mrs. Fortenberry (Sit up straight!) and her 5th period typing class.
The typewriter has evolved from a mechanism that clicks, dings, whirs, and kthunks, into a machine that resembles a glowing rectangle with a keyboard that isn’t directly connected (except perhaps by a wire). Instead of the immediate feedback you got when your words printed on paper, you now see them form as pixelated representations on a monitor. The pixelated representations are otherwise known as fonts. Fonts existed before computers, of course, but their electronic representations have changed them in some ways.
What’s different? The difference between tyepwriter and computer fonts is the difference between monospaced (typewriter) and proportional (computer) fonts. Each character in a monospaced font has the same width. The size of a character in a proportional font can vary depending upon what is being represented. It is because of this difference that one of the most hotly debated issues in desktop publishing arose.
How many spaces do you put at the end of a sentence?
The common practice when typing on a typewriter was to put two spaces (KthunkKthunk) after a sentence’s final punctuation. This provided a visual break for readers between sentences. Now that desktop publishing programs (such as Microsoft Word) primarily use proportional fonts, one space (kthunk) provides the same amount of visual break as did the two spaces on a typewriter. So, you only need to put one space at the end of a sentence.
I first became aware of this change thanks to author Robin Williams’ 1995 book The Mac is Not a Typewriter. Since becoming aware of the difference, it has been my practice to follow the rule and use only one space at the end of a sentence. Educating and/or convincing others of this change in typing has not always been easy. In fact, a discussion of this very issue is what inspired the creation of the “Tech Writer Fight Club.”
The person in question could not accept that things had changed and that she should no longer put two spaces after a period. I took the time to explain to her why the common style choice was to use only one space. I provided documentation from other sources, including our company style guide. As she joined the discussion, the volume in her voice went up to 11, and she stated that she had always put two spaces at the end of a sentence and always-would-no-matter-what. If we (the technical editors) wanted to remove the extra space, that was up to us. That was, in fact, what we got paid for anyway, right?
Well, yes, it is.
I was admittedly surprised by her reaction. I’ve never had anyone react quite so strongly to a mere editing suggestion. At that time a space-after-sentence death match wasn’t really an option. So one search-and-replace process later, the extra spaces were removed. I’m told by others (I no longer work at that particular place) that she still adds the two spaces at the end of each sentence. She probably still has a rotary phone at home as well.
If you research the issue, you’ll find that the debate is still rather heated. I’ve read many discussions on both sides of the issue. However, when the Chicago Manual of Style, the Modern Language Association, and the AP Style Guide all recommend that you only use one space at the end of a sentence, that is what I’m going to do. In section 2.12 of the Chicago Manual of Style it states:
A single character space, not two spaces, should be left after periods at the ends of sentences (both in manuscript and in final, published form) and after colons.
So, my suggestion to those who may get into a fight with someone about the extra space? Provide them with documentation of the reasons why the change has occurred. Send them to Grammar Girl’s website for the short and sweet explanation, or to Wikipedia for a lengthier discussion. If all of that fails? Use tact, and just remove the extra spaces later in the editorial process.
Dictionaries, style guides, and guides to grammar are regularly updated because the English language and its usage is constantly changing. It is a living language. Add constantly evolving technology into the mix, and the changes increase by a factor of 100. Use the guides to keep up with the changes, and you have the greatest chance of producing documentation that will best serve your audience. You may, on occasion, encounter someone that refuses to change. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. It just means you may have to develop a thick skin.
