One Space or Two?

[Kraftster]

I have been encountering more and more instances of one space after periods, between sentences. I was always taught two (2) spaces -- like I'm doing in this post (and every other post I've ever written on LGP). I think it would take several months to retrain my thumb to type only one space.

I've yet to see any reputable source state that one space is proper. I have always understood that one space is permissible in print journalism where page space is important, but that is the only time I've ever heard of one space being proper.

In particular, I've been seeing a ton of legal work lately that contains only one space after periods. I can't imagine this would ever be preferred by courts, where readability should be the chief concern when establishing typographic rules.

What say you? Am I missing something?

Edit: Upon completing this post I realized that LGP changes my two spaces to one.

[meow]

I'll put two spaces after the end of each sentence until I die. No retraining for this cat.

[Troy Loney]

Two spaces.

[ulf]

I've used one since about 4th grade and no teacher, professor or coworker has ever said a word.

[Troy Loney]

Doesn't microsoft word auto correct to two spaces?

[shafnutz05]

2

[redwill]

Definitely two spaces. It pains me that online message boards reduce me automatically to one.

It's two, g-dammit.

[JoseCuervo]

unless you are using a typewriter, the correct answer is 1

[ulf]

I don't think so Troy. Maybe there's a setting to make it do so.

[KennyTheKangaroo]

who cares

[mac5155]

unless you are using a typewriter, the correct answer is 1

This IMO. The space after a period on a computer is large enough. Not the space on a typewriter.

[IrishEyes]

Jose is right. Microsoft Word and the like automatically make the break after a period just over a space, so you can see the separation between sentences. It's 1 space.

[Letang Is The Truth]

i only do 1 on here because i am too lazy to do 2

[MWB]

Have used one since high school, I think. Was using two before that, but was told that one was correct and never switched back.

[columbia]

Two spaces is only for people, who desperately need to ramp up their page count for a paper.

[shafnutz05]

Two spaces is only for people, who desperately need to ramp up their page count for a paper.

Psh....amateur. Everyone knows making the margins 1/4 inch wider is the way to go.

[redwill]

You are all ignorant fascist revisionist grammar anarchists!

It's two!!

[pittsoccer33]

this website auto corrects to one space

[Kraftster]

i only do 1 on here because i am too lazy to do 2 use any accepted typographic conventions like capital letters and other forms of punctuation

[Kraftster]

unless you are using a typewriter, the correct answer is 1

source?

[JoseCuervo]

Two spaces is archaic. I let it slide with older folks.

[columbia]

unless you are using a typewriter, the correct answer is 1

source?

Are you questioning the Grammar Girl?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_s ... igital_age

[count2infinity]

I use two. Always have, always will.

[mikey287]

I always use two, I think two is proper but all of my editors tell me to use one..."this isn't grade school"

I'm so used to doing it my way and won't change it that I type an article my way and then when I'm done, I go to Edit > Find/Replace and Replace [two spaces] with [one space] before submitting it.

[Pitts]

Silly rules for silly things.