Help Double Space = Period

[badankles]

i don't use the slider keyboard often, but found recently that a double space will automatically changed to a period. is this a common feature for a slider? is there anyway to turn that option off/on?

 

[rsbenedict]

This is common with mobile phones. I think Blackberry started it, then the iPhone, and the rest followed. I don't think it matters whether the device has a physical keyboard or not, but it's pretty standard.

 

[vazquezcmp]

I can't get it to do it. So there must be a way to turn it on or off.

 

[rsbenedict]

It's in your keyboard settings under device keyboard.

 

[vazquezcmp]

It's in your keyboard settings under device keyboard.

Thank you Sir.

 

[rsbenedict]

You're welcome!

 

[badankles]

It's in your keyboard settings under device keyboard.

Duh, just to show how rarely I use the slider. Thanks.

 

[Puddin422]

Wow, that's dumb. Do they not know you're supposed to put two spaces after the end of each sentence, or between state and zip code when typing an address? That's a dumb "feature" imo.

 

[rsbenedict]

Actually, the double space at the end of a sentence is a leftover from the typewriter days. With current computer word-processing, it's no longer desirable to have a double space after a period. In fact, it's actually a wrong practice on computer typesetting.

 

[Shane112358]

Actually, the double space at the end of a sentence is a leftover from the typewriter days. With current computer word-processing, it's no longer desirable to have a double space after a period. In fact, it's actually a wrong practice on computer typesetting.

As much as I hate to admit it, always having been a stickler on double spaces after periods, you are right that the general consensus is now to only have one space. That being said, I think it is still more aesthetically pleasing to have 2 spaces even on variable width fonts so that is the way I continue to write.

 

[Puddin422]

Whaaat? I never typed on a typewriter, and this is what I was tought in all of my computer/typing classes in school. I don't think I can make myself stop hitting the space bar twice after a sentence. I'm a fast typer and don't even think about it.

 

[rckozma]

Yeah, but with this you don't have to put a period in anymore, still do your double spacing and it inserts the period for you. It just saved you .5 seconds of time....lol.

I was also taught the double space after a period. It does not insert a second period, at least not that I have seen, if you put a period and and double space it still only has one period.

 

[rsbenedict]

Your teachers are ex-typing teachers. The double space was there to make the period stand out. Because in a typewriter, all letters are the same size and the same distance apart, the period looked like it was floating in the middle of two words. Adding the extra space make it evident that there was a new sentence. With computers, nearly all fonts have a different size for the letters, so it looks more natural. The period isn't in the middle of a square designated for a full letter, it's now a dot that sits closely to the letter that it follows.

I learned to adapt when MS Word kept auto-removing all of my double spaces after a period. I DID learn on a typewriter. LOL

Here are some resources:

One Space or Two Spaces After Punctuation -Rules of Desktop Publishing

Report: One Versus Two Spaces After a Period

Sentence spacing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[gme109]

Wow, that's dumb. Do they not know you're supposed to put two spaces after the end of each sentence, or between state and zip code when typing an address? That's a dumb "feature" imo.

Just hit the space bar 3 times. That will give you a period and two spaces.