Do you double space after a paragraph?
Unless you have been directed otherwise by your program, all text in the essay should be double-spaced (p. 229), and no extra space (aside from the double-spacing) should be inserted between paragraphs. Begin every line of text from the left margin, except for the first line of each paragraph.
Do you need 2 spaces after a period?
Unless you are typing on an actual typewriter, you no longer have to put two spaces after a period. Or a question mark. Or an exclamation point. The rule applies to all end punctuation.
Do you single or double space after a period?
Why two spaces after period is wrong?
If you learned to type on a typewriter before word processors became the norm, two spaces after a period were required and taught as correct. The extra space was needed to delineate the beginning of a new sentence because the spacing between words was uneven on a typewriter.
How many spaces are between sentences?
Always put exactly one space between sentences. Or more generally: put exactly one space after any punctuation. Here’s a paragraph with one space between sentences: I know that many people were taught to put two spaces between sentences.
How many spaces should be between sentences?
What is the rule for 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.
Do you put two spaces after a colon?
Just as with the period, it used to be common to put two spaces after a colon, but now most style guides that address the matter (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) recommend using only one space after a colon.
Should I put one or two spaces after a period?
According to the AP Stylebook, single-spacing is correct. The same goes for the Chicago Manual of Style. However, the Modern Language Association Style Center offers different advice, and suggests that writers use a single space after a period unless they have been explicitly told otherwise.
Does MLA require two spaces after period?
Leave one space after a period or other concluding punctuation mark, unless your instructor prefers two spaces. Whichever spacing you choose, be sure to use it consistently throughout your paper. See the MLA’s formatting guidelines for more information.
Why you should never use two spaces after a period?
Because there is so much extra spacing in the typewritten monospace font, writers using typewriters needed the extra space after punctuation to indicate a full stop, such as a period, question mark, or exclamation point. Using two spaces will actually distort your typeset.