The Grammar Guru by Klimley Communications

How many spaces between sentences? The true answer

10/13/2014

"How many spaces after a period?" I hear this question all the time. It's a big debate that can go on for hours for one simple reason: There's an answer, but it's not set in stone. Let me explain.

ALL THE WAY BACK TO GUTENBERG

The story goes all the way back to Gutenberg and the invention of movable type. At that time, there were no rules about this and printers used variable spacing after a period. That is, they put in the amount of space they thought was necessary for the reader to know a sentence ended. Gradually English printers came to use an ‘em’ space between sentences, which is approximately what we would call two spaces after a period. (The French, always proud of any language differences, continued to use only one space.)

2 Comments

Good writing skills are a cornerstone of success in the academic world, and they are also a major plus in later life.

But our recent pandemic
--and pivot to distance learning--has made it a challenge for many students to move ahead at the expected--or desired--pace.

If you feel your student could use some extra tutoring, take a look at my information page on this website entitled "The English Tutor" and give me a call or email to find out more about my composition and reading services. I can help your student not just achieve what is expected, but also advance much further faster.

April W. Klimley
June 9, 2021
[email protected]
917-626-4838

How many spaces between sentences? The true answer

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