Two Spaces or One?

[rah]

Like they ever knew anything about reality.
And which would explain why this is the first time I've ever heard about it.

[rah]

When I googled it, this thread was listed 10th. That's different.
But it seems to still be a lot of discussion out there on which is right.
Claiming one is right just because that's the way HTML deals with it is a real stretch.

[SlowwHand]

Like they ever knew anything about reality.
And which would explain why this is the first time I've ever heard about it.

Because you've been trying to get past all the spaces?

[rah]

Well it's been a long time since I boffed any elementary school teachers.

[-Jrabbit]

With proportional fonts one looks stupid.
Screw reality. And Just who is the keeper of this stupid switch to one. Who claims it's official.

It's the Golden Rule: Those who have the gold, make the rules. And that includes every single client and vendor who has paid me for the written word over the past 4 years.

[BeBMan]

That's actually part of the HTML standard.

HTML

[rah]

It's the Golden Rule: Those who have the gold, make the rules. And that includes every single client and vendor who has paid me for the written word over the past 4 years.

Well they haven't paid me a cent so I don't give a rat's ass what they say.
And search the web, it's not quite as certain as you pretend it to be.

[-Jrabbit]

Cite me a specific example of any print publication that uses two spaces today.

[rah]

Check the other thread.

[-Jrabbit]

d/p

[-Jrabbit]

Check my response.

Your source is for fiction writers submitting a manuscript, and it's about marketing to your potential publisher/editor. And its copyright date is 2002. Thus, it acknowledges only courier and times roman fonts; and while it recommends two spaces for ease of reading, it advises you to check the publisher's guidelines first. Fiction writers normally submit to multiple publishers. Do you really think it make sense to have both two-space and one-space versions available? It's clumsy and a potential error source.

Commissioned works go straight to the editing process, and publishers are doing all they can to streamline their processes. Very different from an book editor who reads physical manuscripts from wannabe authors.

Frankly, the "much disputed" aspect comes from people who are living in the past.

Anyplace that accepts two spaces will also accept one.
Many places will accept only one space.
So, as someone who works in the field, the trend is clear.

All my sources are publisher guidelines. Yes, limited to my clients, but that includes dozens of publications, both consumer and trade (plus manufacturers). All who have any spacing rule at all say: one space.

Yeah, it's just my experience, but I'll take that over an advice-to-lovelorn-authors website from 2002.

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that your citation does not include any specific examples of publishers that use (much less require) two spaces. It mere suggests that some book readers/editors prefer it, which I don't dispute.

Late add: I got a nice little lol from this advice:

If you have a dot matrix printer, upgrade to one of the bubble or ink jet printers. Most publishers won't take dot matrix manuscripts any more.

[rah]

So it's not so black and white? which was my point in the first place.

And all of this doesn't cover personal correspondents. So I feel comfortable to continue using 2 spaces in e-mails and such without fear of the the grammer nazis.

[Kuciwalker]

People who use only 1 space are monsters.

[-Jrabbit]

All you've proven is that it wasn't black and white in 2002 (and in the UK at that). And I was very specific about the media spaces where the one-space rule applies today. Obviously, nothing is universal.

Considering that we live in a world of tweets and texting, certainly all "rules" are flexible. But the correct response to the OP question is clear: today, one space after periods is strongly preferred.

I'll say this: If you use 2 spaces in your professional life, you may be asked to change. If you use one, you will not.

[BeBMan]

2 spaces