Tuesday
Apr192011
19 April 2011 / Typography Two reasons why you shouldn't double space
1. It's anachronistic
Unless you're working on a typewriter, there is absolutely no need to smack that space bar more than once. Don't take my word for it – behold the wisdom of Robert Bringhurst, from the Elements of Typographic Style:
“In the 19th century, which was a dark and inflationary age in typography and type design, many compositors were encouraged to stuff extra space between sentences. Generations of 20th century typists were then taught to do the same, by hitting the spacebar twice after every period [full stop]. Your typing as well as your typesetting will benefit from unlearning this quaint Victorian habit. As a general rule, no more than a single space is required after a period, colon or any other mark of punctuation.”
2. It really gets my goat
And you wouldn't like me when I've got my goat.
Reader Comments (5)
Tell me about it; I just had a client who's entire copy text was supplied this way - looked over and approved by so-called typographical experts. But hay, they were the ones paying ;)
There's also no point on doing it for the web, as the browser doesn't render the additional space. Unless in a field.
Actually, Daniel, I think only one reason would suffice here... no need for two. ;P
There are a couple of reasons to double space.
1.) Proofreaders of the printed word usually prefer a little more space to add revisions comments, etc. Once the proofing process is over, single space reigns.
2.) I learned to set type with lead. Lengths of lead, of varying thickness, were used to create space between baselines where descenders and ascenders collide, making blocks of text to me more readable. In some cases even more white space was breathed into a paragraph to make it easier to read, thus the term "leading". While this is not thee intent of your piece, we should not throw the appropriate use of leading (baby) out with the abhorrence of the double-space bathwater.
I can't tell you how many times clients supply copy like this! It's irritating to say the least. Thank God for "Find/Replace"! Great book too, by the way!