Assistant Police Chief Brian Jackson sent me a couple links to articles he thought I'd be interested in. The chiefs, assistant chiefs, and I often exchange such tidbits when one of us encounters something especially interesting or provocative. The first article he sent me was a recap of research (and the gaps therein) concerning gun control. The second, however, was the one that really raised my eyebrow.
I learned in eighth grade typing class to double space after the period at the end of a sentence before beginning the next sentence. I've typed that way for the ensuing 46 years. The double-tap on the space bar is programmed into my muscle memory. Now I am told that the rules have changed, and that a sentence should be followed by a single space. The evidence that I never got the memo can be found in the past 1,078 posts here on my blog. Trying to compose this post with a single space is requiring all of my concentration, and frequent resort to the backspace key.
Next, I suppose, someone will decide that it's perfectly okay to place the closing quotation mark on the inside of the period, rather than the outside. That will be the final straw.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
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19 comments:
321 When I was first learning to use the computer I kept failing tests on my data entry or some such. Yah, I was double spacing, too. I don't think they even told us about it--had to learn the hard way..
I religiously followed both those rules for a long time, yet I never did think they made a lot of sense. I still do the double space out of habit. It seems nowadays that people use quotes around words for emphasis rather than because they are quoting someone, and in those instances where the "quoted word or words" come at the end of a sentence, it just doesn't seem right to put the period (or other sentence ending punctuation) inside the "quotes". I figure if the language can change over time simply because people refuse to follow the rules of spelling, grammar, or punctuation, I'm as good as anyone to help lead the way.
While helping my twins with their homework last night, I told my son to double space after a period and both my kids looked at me with that look and said,"What?" I had no idea!! Thanks Chief for helping out an older dad that grew up on a manual typewriter.
Friends Always,
Dana
This is the first I've heard of that! Just as you stated in your blog, I am finding it difficult to only add one space in this reply! (must...go...back...to...add...more...spaces)
I have been told that the two spaces "rule" is still taught in "keyboarding classes," which is just so WRONG. Ever since word processors/computers became ubiquitous, the two spaces rule has been obsolete. I learned to not do two spaces in about 1 afternoon at my first newspaper job in 1982 when I was finally exposed to computer-assisted composing. Folks who say it is hard to change the habit are merely lazy. Plus, over the long run it saves thousands of key strokes and wear and tear on your hands. I also use my left thumb to hit the space bar even though I am right handed. This is also some keyboarding anomaly.
Any grammar and punctuation rules I learned during my early years were not that important to me during my 20+ years in the trucking business. Log books don't require proper grammar and punctuation. GBL's (government bills of lading) are written in a language only a bureaucrat can understand and they used to have eight copies.
Teaching old dawgs new tricks ain't easy.
Gun Nut
Guess ya can't teach an old dog new tricks! I still like the 2 spaces between sentences. It looks neater and makes an easier read, for me. Don't worry, Tom. Nobody is counting your spaces; we just read for the content!
Anon @ 10:10
I resemble that remark!
For someone who first started working in 1982, you couldn't have developed much of a habit before you learned to use one space. Make that 50 years of keyboarding the "old fashioned way" and then tell me breaking the habit is easy. (Did you even notice I single spaced just to make you happy?)
To be honest, this is pretty much the first I've heard that two spaces is no longer correct, and from my limited research (just today), I'd say it is still debatable. I have no problem with it changing, and it probably does make sense with modern writing techniques. It certainly doesn't compare with the modern habits that eliminate any punctuation whatsoever along with capitalization and any other rules of spelling or grammar.
My alma mater has recreated the "Stylebook", and has it for sale. This guide is not only the written rules of grammar and punctuation, it is done in a manner that middle and high school students can understand. I ordered copies for my kids, even after they graduated from the LPS system, because they needed it.
http://omahacentralalumni.com/shop/memorabelia/chs-stylebook/
Several years ago I read the novel PLAINSONG by Ken Haruf. I loved the book and the story. Several weeks after I read the book I was watching BOOK TV and the discussion was about Haruf's and his writing that violated most of the traditional rules of punctuation etc. I didn't even notice these errors while I was reading PLAINSONG. I guess a good storyteller doesn't have to obey the rules.
Gun Nut
Even modern journalists are apparently exempt from grammar rules; just read some LJS articles.
Steve 12:17 PM: I get that COMPLETELY! I'm no English expert, but I'm always amazed at the publications that go out into the world with an unbelievable amount of grammatical and punctuation errors. I even find them in school textbooks. Whatever happened to editors? (Sheeze, I hope I wrote all that correctly!)
7:08,
Ahem, I believe the proper spelling would be gheesh, and better grammar would be, "Gheesh, I hope that was all correctly written!" Always keep the adverb close to the action.
Tom, That's funny but I REALLY did mean to say 'Sheeze!' Guess I could have used 'Jeeze' or 'Sheezum'...now you've got me paranoid! And I'm wondering about all my punctuation errors...hmmm...UGH!
Wow! Grammar is nearly as hot a topic as guns, at least on this site.f
"Grammar is nearly as hot a topic as guns, at least on this site.
Well, the grammar in this article isn't too bad.
Actually double space is still the norm. Trust me, just finished a paper today!
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/24/
Back in 1968 (you had to be in 8th grade then to take typing) when I took typing that is how I was taught, a double space after the period. To me seeing a single space after a period just doesn't look right. Everything has that squished togather appearance.
@Steve: I am Anon 10:10. Sorry but I am 57. I am older than dirt and well past the age of relevance in life. You can learn. You just don't care to. I recently had to switch to PC after 25 years on Apple. It's been rough, but I have learned to use the ridiculous right-click and F-keys. And for those who think it "looks" better, well, the computer is compensating for your use of the double spaces. When you see odd big gaps in justified type (where both sides of a column are even), the double space error becomes even more annoying to type geeks.
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