Due to my current abundance of free time I will begin posing random studies to my fellow beloved core77ers?!?! to gauge what society has to say on completely unimportant world matters whose outcome and discussion is completely meaningless but should be fun(ny).
#1 After getting annoyed when seeing articles written by my coworkers with only one space between sentences I decided to look into the subject. To me it makes it more difficult to read.
Onesy’s claim that using two spaces was necessary in the days of yore (er, typewriters) b/c each letter took up the same amount of space. I.e. “i” was used the same area as “w.” Now b/c word processors use proportional spacing depending on the width of the letter they claim that the use of two spaces between sentences is unnecessary, even “ugly” as on woman put it. So according to them twosys are hanging on to archaic ways.
I disagree whole-heartedly and am interested to hear your perspectives on the matter. If any of you have taken any types of courses on improving user-interface or usability the aim of the work is to improve the product for the end-user; in this case the reader. My twosy perspectives are:
There are often capitalized letters within a sentence so a capitalized letter doesn’t always help to assist the punctuation in defining beginning and end.
Sentences with only one space between them are much easier to miss the punctuation and continue on as if a run-on sentence.
Not to mention that it’s easier to relocate your place if you get distracted for whatever reason and look away.
Thus in summary I boldly state that regardless of word processing proportioning it is still very necessary and relevant to place two spaces between sentences to improve readability! Now what say you?
I was taught two spaces, how I learned how to type so I don’t even think about it. After punctuation, that space bar get’s typed twice without thinking. I do think it’s easier to find your space when looking at a big block. Or to tell the difference between a period and comma for folks like me that zoom way out and type.
Regarding the usability issue, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
but to memorize all the words that you spelled wrong would sure be a lot of fun in case you need to use it that way again. something to consider. that’s why the chinese words are so advanced compared to other languages.
I am a twosey all the way. The thing I think that people forget is that our written language was developed from spoken language and that in speach we use pauses and changes in tone to put emphasis on different areas of what we are saying and that is what punctuation does is let us know that the writer is putting an emphasis on some part of their thought without this as you can see by now it gets very difficult to follow someones thoughts as they ramble on seemingly with no intention. As a previous writer said, the two spaces give a mental pause with which to allow the reader pace the language inside their heads. Unfortunately, we all think in terms of our language, so it is important that we write what we really want to say.
I got no boss fool, free will! Now get back to your mid-life crisis and ex-post-facto Atkins Krispy Kreme diet, fatty.
BTW 214 & CG great posts very intellegent (always a big fan of you two). Always a pleasure to have your inputs so kudos. However CG you’re still WRONG. Your reminder of the word organization speaks neither here nor there concerning Mr-914 very valid statement that text used to, and still ought to mirror the spoken word with emphasis and deliberate pause for all!
Asereje ja de je de jebe tu de jebere seibiunouva,
majavi an de bugui an de buididipi,
asereje ja de je de jebe tu de jebere seibiunouva,
majavi an de bugui an de buididipi
!Core seventIsevin donde esta la spelochek por favor! LOL hop hop
The most important concept in type design is visual equality. It is the most used technique in designing letterforms. Type designers make very subtle changes to different letterforms to make them appear equal. They lighten vertical strokes when there are multiple strokes and make serifs different lengths to make them visually the same. Sidebearings, advance widths and stem weights are all examples of this balancing technique. The technique is to be used at the right time and should not be confused with poorly marked or aligned stems, badly spaced glyphs or inconsistent vertical and horizontal distances.
I was taught two spaces after punctuation in typing class. This was pre-desktop publishing, home computers with different typefaces, etc., learning on electric typwriters. Always 2 spaces between sentences. Don’t think it had anything to do with any actual typeface design. Was just part of the rules like the number of spaces between the greeting and body.
Definately a onesy, I seriously think it doesn’t count too much though. Mind you i think that it is probably just what you have been taught, you can still read it anyway.
On the idea that it adds pauses that would be there naturally if you were speaking, well if you are intending to read the document out loud or were writing a speech this may be a consideration. However i would like to meet somone who cannot read a paragraph faster than they can speak it.
The most enjoyable texts, to me, are the ones that sound beautiful when I read them out loud in my head. Recently I re-read some Shakespeare poetry, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Alas, it is few (and surely not myself) who can make a point and make it beautifully.
so the real question here should be more towards the use of the text that is getting written.
Should the text be for a utilitarian purpose such as a message board, emails or a factual document then the punctuation and formatting can be more clinical.
However should the peice be emotive or attempting to convey and idea or thought process, perhaps the wording and punctuation issues noticed here can more greatly affect the readers perspective.
i wholeheartedly agree that shakespeare’s writing is emotive and very nicely composed. However should you read something like a technical manual that was written in the same style i think there might be some problems understanding it (would read kida funny though, perhaps an idea for a topic - post a segment of a technical manual, and rewrite it in the style of your favourite fictional author / playwright).