Back in 2008, I wrote the following screed against the movement from two spaces after a sentence to just one.
The two-space rule was a fossil of a time when people typed with typewriters. The extra space was needed to delineate the beginning of a new sentence because the spacing between words was uneven on a typewriter.
Computers do not suffer from this problem, and thus the two-space rule died a slow, necessary death.
But back in 2008, I stood opposed to this change, which gives me hope:
If I can change my mind about something that I once despised with every fiber of my body, then maybe others can change their minds, too:
Red Sox fans could become Yankees fans.
Trump supporters might finally see the light.
Bigots could stop weirdly obsessing over other people’s genitals.
Golfers who take mulligans might finally choose dignity, ethics, and sportsmanship.
New Yorkers could stop inserting street corner locations into all of their stories.
People who have never deigned to try a Domino’s pizza but routinely denigrate it might order one and discover how delicious they really are.
Change is possible. Hope springs eternal.
If you’re curious, here is my two-space diatribe from 15 years ago:
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In the recent debate over how many spaces should come after a period, I unequivocally come down on the side of two. In the words of this blog’s author, “Taking the extra space away from a period strips it of its dignity.”
Unfortunately, it appears that forces are mounting against this belief, including the Associated Press and the much-despised MLA:
“Use a single space after the period at the end of a sentence.” — The Associated Press Stylebook
“Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared with a single space after all punctuation marks, this spacing is shown in the examples in the MLA Handbook and the MLA Style Manual.”
Global warming and nuclear proliferation have nothing on this vile and dangerous movement to remove the double space after the period. It must be stopped. Please join me in opposition to this insane and unnecessary movement.
I hope Doubleday agrees with my opinion, or I may find my first novel, Something Missing, maligned with one space after each period.
I shudder even to consider this possibility.
