I recently published an internal company article sharing my issue with double spaces after a period. It certainly caused some pushback and interesting conversations – in fact, I was shocked at how strongly people feel on both sides of the fence (I encourage you to ask your coworkers, friends, and kids about it). After talking to a few friends in the industry, I’ve realized that this needs to be a much bigger conversation. It might seem like a petty topic, but I urge you to stop and consider what’s at stake. The double space is not just a style choice – it’s indicative of a gap in generation and adaptability and it could be undermining how others perceive you.
Why the double space?
I want to be clear – this is not an article to shame the double spacers out there, but to simply put it on your radar. If you are a double spacer, it’s probably because that’s how you were taught in English class. In fact, I learned to use a double space after a period in elementary school and had to unlearn it in high school. In college, I worked in our university’s writing center as a tutor and helped other students unlearn it as well.
So, how did this even become a common practice in the first place? We can blame it on the manual typewriter. Typewriters use monospaced type, giving the character a “loose” or “floating” look since some characters are skinny (like “l”) and some wide (like “W”). Therefore, two spaces were required after a period to ensure sufficient space between sentences. Today, even though typewriters are out of commission, we hang on to the outdated custom despite the fact that the type we use is no longer monospaced.
Every major style guide (including the Modern Language Association of Style and the Chicago Manual of Style) advises that one space after a period is the correct practice.
Why does it matter?
Aside from the fact that double spacing is technically incorrect, this practice is indicative of a generation gap between the writer and reader. Especially if you’re emailing or communicating with younger buyers, you could be conveying a subtle message of an “old school” mentality without meaning to. Rather than just making this an objective argument about age, I think it speaks more to the idea of adaptability.
Consider your average buyer. Especially in medium to large companies, they likely work in Public Relations, Marketing, Human Resources, and Purchasing and are skilled in editing, writing, design, and communications. If anyone is going to notice this error, it’s them.
In our industry – and any business – the phrase “that’s how I’ve always done it” doesn’t cut it. Think about how hard you work to attract leads, connect with your customers and demonstrate your expertise. If something as small as an extra space is inadvertently undermining this, isn’t it worth reconsidering? Old habits die hard, but change has to be non-negotiable if we expect to grow. It’s time to literally and figuratively close this gap.
Adaptability over stagnancy always.
Taylor Borst is head of communications and public relations for American Solutions for Business. Joining the print and promo industry in 2015, she specializes in social media, promotional products, and supplier relations. Taylor is currently a Sous Chef with PromoKitchen, on the Networking Committee for PPAI SPARK and is an advocate for education and youth involvement in the industry. Connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn.