One Space or Two Spaces After a Period?
The MLA and Chicago style guides now recommend using only one space after periods or other end punctuation. The APA style guide recommends two spaces after punctuation ending sentences.
People were taught to use two spaces following a period in the days of the typewriter and those double spacers became parents, teachers, and professors who taught word processor/computer-era students to use two spaces after a period. It’s a vicious cycle.
I have even seen two spaces following periods in text messages – a form of communication where spelling, grammar, and punctuation are often completely eliminated!
It is a hard habit to break and though one space after a period is now considered standard, the most important thing is to be consistent.
MLA (Modern Language Association)
MLA Handbook FAQ – How many spaces should I leave after a period or other concluding mark of punctuation?
Since word processors make available the same fonts used by typesetters for printed works, many writers, influenced by the look of typeset publications, now leave only one space after a concluding punctuation mark.
Chicago Manual of Style
Chicago Style Q&A: One Space or Two?
There is a traditional American practice, favored by some, of leaving two spaces after colons and periods. This practice is discouraged by the University of Chicago Press, especially for formally published works and the manuscripts from which they are published.
APA (American Psychological Association)
The APA style guide is not available online, but I used this APA Style Essentials summary. One must use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Spacing after Punctuation: Space once after commas, colons, and semicolons within sentences. Insert two spaces after punctuation ending sentences.
Please note: In the quote advising those following APA guidelines to use two spaces after punctuation ending sentences above, there are not two spaces after the end punctuation of the first sentence…
And finally, I have to give props to the OWL.
Filed under interests | Tags: american pyschological association, apa, chicago, chicago manual of style, end punctuation, faq, grammar, grammer, mla, modern language association, one, one space after period, online, online writing lab, owl, period, punctuation, punctuation ending sentences, q&a, two, two spaces after period, writing | Comments (2)How to Choose an Internet Dating Site Part I – Match.com
In my single days, I tried online dating. I spent a lot of time and money trying out all the different sites. This series of posts is a summary of my experiences & opinions of the internet dating sites I used. It is intended to help anyone thinking about trying online dating or looking for a different dating site.
Match.com
By far, my worst dates came from Match.com and in my opinion, Match is the worst dating site out there. This probably stems from the fact that it is the easiest and fastest site to sign up for, and also the most inexpensive.
The ability to search primarily based on physical criteria on Match is a bad thing. You put in what physical features you want your matches to have, view pictures (subscribers only), and read what he or she has to say about him or herself. Easy enough, right? Wrong. In my experience, Match.com users lie about EVERYTHING – their ages, heights, weights, marital statuses, number of children, you name it.
You must communicate through Match because the site blacks out email addresses people incorporate into their profile text to communicate with users without paying to use the site… Tell me this: Why would you want to connect with someone who isn’t even serious enough to pay the minimum $35 for one month to meet someone special?
The worst feature of Match.com is free trial weekends. While free trials might be good for beginners or people unsure if they want to subscribe, but free trails are bad for everyone else using the site. This is when the cheapskate creeps come out and activate the accounts they haven’t used for months to quickly contact as many people as possible for free. No thank you!
On the dark side, I know of a man who has been on Match for at least five years. Now that Match has the “find someone special in 6 months or get 6 months free” guarantee, my friend claims he “will be on Match until he gets married.”
On the bright side, I personally know two couples that met on Match and both couples recently married. They all have horror stories about some of the dates they had and people they met through Match, but things worked out for them and they seem very happy.
In conclusion, when it comes to Match.com, you get what you pay for.
Filed under interests | Tags: chemistry, chemistry.com, dating, eharmony, eharmony.com, Facebook, Helen Fisher, internet, internet dating sites, match, match.com, MySpace, online, online dating sites, personals | Comment (0)