There's been a ongoing battle (not worthy of its own reality show) between the "single spacers" and the "double spacers" for some time now. Many of those firmly in the double space after a period camp, say it's tradition. (Note: double spaces after a period isn't a tradition, and you can read about here.)
As a Columbus Ohio website design firm, we side with the single space group.
However, if you were going to use that "tradition" argument, one can also argue there were many other traditions that had the good sense to go away: like child labor, women not voting and not eating shellfish because they're "bottom dwellers." So we don't think "tradition" is much of an argument for anything.
What do the experts say?
Turns out every modern typographer is pretty much in agreement on the one-space rule. It's one of the rules of their profession.
And unless you use the Republican line about global warming, that "I'm not a scientist..." like most reasonable people, you just go to the source and see what those who ARE experts on the subject have to say about it. And in this instance, we suspect 95% (we don't know if that's the exact percentage... we just made it up) of the experts in that field agree on the one space rule.
That said you can find a lot more articles siding with the single space rule, than those siding the double space rule.
Then there's the man who literally wrote the book about it
Yes, there's a guy named James Felici who wrote "The Complete Manual of Typography" (which you can order here). His research shows that, in the early 1900s, typesetters in Europe were settling the debate, and going with a single space after each sentence. America soon followed. (What?! We weren't the FIRST?!)
The other consideration is for websites
Whether or not you decide to agree with typographers about the one space rule, consider the website argument: every space you add between sentences, adds a tiny bit of code.
We understand, on the surface, it doesn't seem like a big deal. But when you have hundreds of pages on your website, and eventually (if you're doing it right) hundreds of blogs, those hundreds of thousands of sentences that have double spaces after each sentence, add up to a TON of extra code. And the more unnecessary code in your website, the longer it takes to load.
then there's the "over 40" perspective
One author argues, if you use double spaces, you're probably over 40.
Her argument goes: unless you're actually typing on a typewriter, you really have no excuse to put two spaces after each sentence. She gets into the whole learning to type on an IBM Selectric thing, so it's a pretty cute perspective.
Can't we all just get along...
... and agree that the single space after a sentence is the way to go? We hope so. Because after all, there's no much more to worry about in the world than spaces. But just think: if we can settle this issue and bring together the "single spacers" and the "double spacers," can a two state solution for Israel and the Palestinians be far behind?
