The practice of putting two spaces after a period at the end of a sentence
is from the printing/publishing industry. Linotype machines automatically
justified their lines to a specific column width, but had a minimal space
size. Since a period got very little space, the two spaces after it made
certain there was a minimum of white space between sentences. It became a
convention in typing classes, since much of what was to be printed in
newspapers had to be typed first, back in those days.
Because it helps people who read fast, as I do, to parse out the sentences
when they're reading, the white space between sentences is necessary for
rapid extraction of proper meaning.
Much of the trouble with literacy among people having graduated from the
present education system is that they can't read material and extract the
meaning. ANYTHING that helps with that is important and not just a whim.
ee cummings (I was reminded that he never used cap's, or punctuation,
methinks, and freely formatted his verse.) wrote difficult-to-parse
freeverse. I am not an afficionado of poetry, but, having had to complete,
successfully, a class in modern literature as an undergraduate, I do
remember that there was such a person and that he had a peculiar style.
During the week or two when we studied T.S. Eliot, Playboy magazine featured
a set of "college life" cartoons, one of which quoted the line, "Let us go,
then, you and I, ..." which made that the only Eliot poem of which I
remember anything at all.
If you have problems reading some things, try to keep that in mind when you
write. Others may have problems as well. Make it easy for them to see what
you mean in what you write by taking a little extra care. It's important.
Learn to do it well.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris" <mythtech_at_Mac.com>
To: "Classic Computer" <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Language and English
> > but I did learn that
> >a period at the end of a sentence is followed by two spaces, for example.
>
> This is actually a now outdated custom. I think it was originally there
> as old type presses has a small space character, so two were needed to
> make decent enough room to tell a sentence ended. I think it carried over
> to original typwriters, and then into early word processing... but now,
> it is outdated, and no longer taught (at least not by newer typing
> teachers... I bet the nuns at my wife's old highschool still teach two
> spaces).
>
> Of course, it could also have been dropped out of laziness, and just
> changed out of force from the new generation just not bothering with a
> 2nd space. (I think that is why standard office attire has relaxed so
> much too... new generation of bosses that don't take as much pride in
> their work appearance... not that I am one to talk, since I always wear
> jeans and a shirt to work except for days I have to meet with clients)
>
> >If you insist on writing in a style reminiscent of E. E. Cummings poetry
>
> Ugh.. try reading William Faulkner (I am pretty sure that is who it
> was)... he has 3 page run on sentences... worst reading my poor dyslexic
> brain ever had to deal with.
>
> -chris
>
> <http://www.mythtech.net>
>
>
Received on Fri Jan 04 2002 - 13:32:45 GMT