Studies show that two spaces after a period is more readable than one.
Here's a report on a study in The Atlantic, at The Scientific Case for Two Spaces After a Period. Money quote:
... there was an increase in reading speed of 3% when reading text with two spaces following periods, as compared to one. This is ... an average of nine additional words per minute above their performance under the one-space conditions.
I think all of us old-line two-spacers pumped our fists in the air in a celebration of victory ... and then doubled over in pain because that motion really makes your shoulder hurt. (Or is that just me?)
Being an opinionated writer, I have opinions about the two-space vs one-space "controversy." This is going to be awfully nerdy, so if you're not a nerdy word-person, you might want to move along about now.
- I have no way of knowing if the research was valid, repeatable, or meaningful. But I bet that if that extra space between sentences matters, it only matters a little bit. Do you really think that a block of one-space copy chases away some huge percentage of readers?
- I root for two-spaces because anything that lets a bit more "air" into your text, making it less of a solid wall of gray type, has to be good. A far more effective way to do that is to use short paragraphs.
- If you're writing for the web, HTML takes away the decision. It's going to show only one space, no matter how many you type. (There's a way to hard-code the extra space in, but let's be realistic -- who's gonna do that?)
- Either way, I'm too old to change. I can't not hit that space bar twice after a period. It's as automatic as breathing. I've actually tried. Can't do it.
- If some proofreader with time on their hands wants to take the extra spaces out of something I've written, go ahead. I have other things to worry about.
So God bless the researchers. This time, anyway.
(This post first appeared on May 16, 2018.)
