Why do people put a space before punctuation marks?

There are even people who — gasp — put a space before “low” punctuation like periods and commas. While some of this comes across as sloppy Francophilia, there are people who opt for the space as a form of sentence cushioning, a way to decrease the (self-perceived) force behind their statements.

Are you supposed to put a space before punctuation?

Obviously, spaces and punctuation do go together… a space after a comma, colon, semicolon… but the whole thing of two spaces after a period ending a sentence or, as you say, one before that period… I think it’s neither typographic nor language-based; I think it’s clerical.

When did it change to one space after a period?

Magazines, newspapers, and books began to adopt the single space convention in the United States in the 1940s and in the United Kingdom in the 1950s. Typists did not move to single spacing simultaneously. The average writer still relied on the typewriter to create text—with its mechanical spacing limitations.

Do the French use a space before punctuation?

According to the About.com page on French punctuation, French requires a space before any two-part punctuation mark, so you’d also need a space before a semicolon, a colon, and the French equivalent of quotation marks (1). Sure, it could be that more French people are writing in places English writers would see it.

Why do people put a space between exclamation marks?

Explanation: In written English, there is no space between the word and the punctuation mark succeeding it. However, a space between a word and a succeeding exclamation mark is sometimes used in computer printing because of the possibility that the exclamation mark might be misread as an ‘l’.

Should there be space before bracket?

One space before and none after an opening parenthesis or bracket within a sentence; no space before or after a closing parenthesis or bracket that is followed by a punctuation mark: Please read the enclosed booklet (Using Your Modem); it will help you take full advantage of your new communication tool.

Is there 2 spaces after a period?

Nearly all style guides agree that one space is correct. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) was the only style guide that overtly recommended two spaces after a period, and even that long-time holdout for two spaces changed its guideline to one space in its 2019 update.

What does 2 periods mean in texting?

It is used to indicate a break: either a break in thought, or a break in communication medium (text, email, etc.) where the same thought will be continued in. The two dot ellipsis is not an official punctuation.

Do not space before or after a period within an abbreviation?

Almost all small-letter abbreviations made up of single initials require a period after each initial but no space after each internal period.

What are the rules for punctuation marks?

The consensus is universal, one space rules. Another one that gives rise to confusion is the rule of the period and the quotation mark. This rule applies equally to the other punctuation marks, like comma, exclamation and question mark, when used with quotation marks.

Why do some people leave spaces before exclamation points when texting?

Zelda, 30, is also a French speaker who tends to leave spaces before exclamation points and question marks when texting in English. She chalks it up partially to having lived in France, but it’s also just force of habit. “My thumb automatically hits a space after everything and it seems a waste of effort to go back and delete it,” she said.

How much space should be between hyphens and punctuation marks?

The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically. Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen. [For more rules about hyphens, click on Hyphens .]

How many spaces do you put between periods and commas?

Spacing With Punctuation. Rule 1. With a computer, use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically. Rule 2. Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen.