fonzo.biz

So recently I have noticed a push for the inclusion of the double space in writings. For those who are not knowledgeable in the way of the double space, the double space is simply two spaces between a period and the subsequent capital letter. As an example, “this. Is” a single (normal) space, and “this. Is” a double space (and you probably cannot see a difference because my blog justifies all words). I know the difference seems slight, but nonetheless it is a difference, and one that could have major impacts (possibly) on your writing.

One of those impacts is the potential for the writer to appear uneducated. That was my initial thought of a fellow student when I was first introduced to the double space method during a group project. Being curious, I inquired and the student kindly instructed me that they were taught to use the double space method, and that teachers expected all assignments to be turned in using such method. Needless to say, I was stunned by such a teaching.

When I was going through school (middle and high school), I was taught the way of the single space. When I read magazines, newspapers, browse the net, or read any of my currently required textbooks, it seems as though they are all written using the single space method. In fact, I cannot remember the last piece of published writing I read that used double spaces consistently.

However, on my campus, it is the way of the double space which is the expected standard. Being a business major, my first thought was that the double space phenomenon is an isolated incident in the business sector; I was wrong. I have friends in various majors and many of them have heard the same thing as I. That the way of the double space is the correct, expected, and “A” achieving method.

My question to you all, is have you experienced the same thing at your school or office?

Personally, I just do not see what the way of the double space offers that the single space method does not. The extra space to my eyes does highlight the beginning of a new sentence, but I find that useless as I have never been confused about when a sentence begins and ends (unless people will bad grammar simply do not use punctuation marks). My next thought would be that it makes it easier for professors to write-in comments. And while that may be true, I find that to be a horrible reason as a teachers convenience should not result in inadequate education. In fact, I would be willing to argue that the only real item the double space method offers is additional key strokes and work for the editor.

If you are missing a space between sentences (using the single space method) , it is painfully obvious while writing or reading.However (did you notice that? probably), if you are missing a space between sentences (using the double space method), it is painfully easy to go unnoticed. In addition, it is incredibly tedious to proof-read a paper looking for missing blank spaces. So in the end the benefit is increased work but the potential drawback is the devaluing of your “writing” to something akin to “scribbles.”

So why be concerned? Well, mostly because I like to write well. With that in mind, it is hard to know how well you write when you are unsure of the proper formatting that you writing is supposed to be guided by. Therefore, I am going to the infamous internet in search of my answer; which method is correct? Should I keep blogging using single space, or should I migrate all future posting to the way of the double space? More importantly, could my marketability, and thus my career, be dwarfed based solely on this issue?