Spaces After Full Stop?

[shazbang]

Is there a general rule or law on how many spaces to use after a full stop in general word processing? Its been so long since I did my typing exams that I can't remember how many I was taught to use but in previous jobs I've been told by some employers to use 1 and by others to use 2. Does anyone know what the R.S.A. guidelines are on this?

[CheekyChops]

When I did RSA level 2 it was 2 spaces.

[JulieEve]

RSA definitely states 2 spaces after a full stop.

[andy-hughes]

I learned RSA typing at college, and it was teo spaces, but word processing seems to have reverted to one - as in handwriting.

[BigMac]

When I did RSA exams., definitely 2 spaces.

But note newspapers - only ever one space, as you can get more words in a column if you don't 'waste' space.

I still use two spaces. I find it makes what I type easier to read.

[joko]

why doesn't the space bar just make a longer gap then?

seems pointless to use two - except perhaps for legal documents or something, though can't see why

books only use one.

[gen2]

When reading quickly, the eye needs a clear sign when the end of a sentence is coming up. The wider space is an extra clue that a full stop is lurking there. Personally I always use 2 spaces after every sentence as I have in this answer, but alas, you won't see any sign of them because AnswerBank relentlessly removes any surplus and enforces a single space on all users.

[dml54]

I was taught one space after a comma or other punctuation mark, but two spaces after a full stop. Looks much better too.

[ermintrude35]

..when I did my e.c.d.l , our tutor would accept 2 spaces or 1 space, as long as it was consistant throughout..

[Jack Maude]

Two space or not two space? That is the question. What the answer is I'm not sure.

[lady_p_gold]

I have always done 2 as in RSA ... couldn't stop now if I tried !

[Harry Nuttal]

One is quite enough. Two is simply affected. It was certainly one space 50 years back when I was a primary school. Two spaces? Just another bit of trendy twaddle.

[sarah_louise]

A full stop never has a space before it and is always followed by a space is what I thought was correct.

When did this space thing suddenly come into fashion ?

[Otrere]

I've done RSA Level 3 - those who say 2 spaces after a full stop are correct. 1 space after a comma.

[Argee]

Harry Nuttal went to a posh primary school if they learnt typing!! I learnt typing fifty years ago and agree with all the RSA writers that we were taught two spaces after a full stop. But, hey, life is too short to worry about it. If you get a letter these days with no spelling or grammatical errors you are lucky.

[adydog]

Secretaries and the like will tell you two spaces, but this should not apply to anything in print. I've been in and around the typesetting trade for over 30 years and it has always been a single space.

[Gromit]

1 space only should be used. All newspapers, magazines and books only have 1 space.

2 spaces is very outdated teaching. In modern word processing the letters and spacing are proportionally spaced, that is to say the software works out the correct distance between letters (and spaces). This space varies between letter combinations. When typewriters were mechanical, the space was fixed so a wider gap between sentences was deemed necessary.

[Gromit]

BigMac. You say you still type 2 spaces after a full stop to make it easier to read. How come in your post you have used a single full stop?

[rja211077]

I'm with Gromit 100% - the word processor fixes the space to give you the extra gap that the eye requires. 2 spaces is a throwback to typewriter days.

[edwina1980]

It is always 2 spaces after a full stop and 1 after all other punctuation marks.