Looks like it's one space! Got that?

Okay. Let's get this out in the open. I'm not old, just getting to middle aged, no damn baby boomer or anything, but I have to admit: I took typing class in High School. I was a Senior. I had all the requirements done and a school too lame to actually recommend I go take a class at the community college. So here I was with time on my hands and an empty schedule. So the guidance counselor helped fill it with, well...filler! So, in 1988, I took typing, on a TYPEWRITER! This was just about the end of that era. In that same marking period I was also filling my schedule with a rather outdated computer course (you know the one, learn to program in Basic). So old was meeting new.



I will happily tell you how I cheated my way through typing. Why not? Who the heck cared if I looked at the keys or not given that I could make corrections on the screen and computer later. (I just touch typed that last line, b/c after 25 years of typing, experience is the best teacher).

Here's the problem. In typing class we learned to put a double space after the end punctuation.

In the computer era this is no longer correct.

However, countless teachers are still drilling into the minds of young folks that they need the two spaces. Heck, I was, until about one month ago. That's when I came across a Slate article that ranted against the two space practice. And that got me thinking, and talking, and researching. I went back to my blog posts to see exactly how they formatted out. Yes, there was only one space, even though I hit the space bar twice. Yes, computers want one space when they format in html.

Still, if you like two spaces, you can do this on Microsoft Word. It will still have two spaces when you print it out. Some sources allow for this choice. Others, like the Chicago Manual of Style (the Geneseo History department's BIBLE on style) say one space, no options.

So, as a teacher, I know I will never again teach my students to use two spaces. It's outdated, and unnecessary. Unfortunately for me, I will still give the old double space. It is so ingrained in my muscle memory I will never be able to let it go. It matters little since the computer reformats the work regardless.

What saddens me is that my colleagues will perpetuate the misinformation that is the double space. I hope to share some intelligent discussion regarding this practice since our students are of a younger generation that will never even touch a typewriter.

We owe it to them to teach them correctly.

Some More Thoughts