I've never used more than one space at the end of a sentence.

I'm lucky if  I hit the period.

One space, always one space, it always looks weird to me. Even my school essays are one spaced.

Did you guys ever take formal typing?  When I semi-learned, I just did the one space. When I actually really learned (using a paper copy instead of following something on screen, real speed testing counting typos, no looking at fingers/keyboard) I had to do the 2 spaces.

At first, I found the 2 spaces to be slightly awkward, but I don't know how I would switch now if I'm writing anything formal.  If I had to switch for online use, I probably could fairly easily (assuming I'm not writing anything longer than a page).

In high school typing I learned two spaces after a period and I guess it is just second nature now. 

2 spaces for me is standard and helps with a sense of "that idea is done - what's next".  It also helps me as I read because it spaces the sentences visually to signal the completion of a sentence and the start of a new.  Like a little breath or a pause.

I have taken and learned typing in grade nine. It's part of the business curriculum for grade nine (at least it was for us) and we spent a considerable amount of time on it. I don't think I've ever been taught to use two spaces before.  <-two spaces looks weird to me!

Always use two spaces.  on my blackberry if you space twice it automatically puts in the period  of course then it really is only one space left so I add a space

Two spaces!  Always two spaces!

Period???

We say "full stop" in Oz.

(Maybe not to confuse it with "secret women's business?)

I learned two spaces but sometimes I just don't care.  As long as my point gets across I'm content.  Fuck Nazis of all stripes, grammar and sentance structure nazis included :P

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

Two spaces on a tripewriter; one on a computer or word processor (because they are wired to widen the gap).

PP My dad calls it  "Full Stop" also. He is British.  A colonial thing to be sure.

Greggs Grammar guide: the god of editors and secretaries everywhere says to use two spaces until further notice . . . thus; for all legal documents et al. two spaces will be used.

Having taken a stenography course in the early 70's, I'm definitely a two-spacer (except of course when I text on my cell phone - then it's just one).

"full stop"? as opposed to coasting with a semi colon or pausing with a comma?

It sounds like it is a leftover from telegraph days (stop)

"secret women's business"? I know people make a living out of all kinds of things, but this is one business venture that takes it too far. No wonder it is a secret.

I definitely learned with two spaces back in "keyboarding" class in grade 9.

But since then, I've had to re-train to using only one, mainly because newer versions of Word (and some other editors), automatically put in two after a period.  Given how much I text now, two does seem outdated - mainly because software does the extra  spacing, etc. for us.

Now if only they would improve auto-correct... :)

I was taught to use two spaces after a period way back in the days of manual typewriters.  Nowadays I just type - without stressing about little details - though I prefer reasonably correct spelling etc..   (Ah - I just noticed TWO periods after an abbreviation, another olden days leftover!)

If you are writing something to be published and you want to drive your editor crazy, then use two spaces after the period. Otherwise just use one. :-)

I always use two spaces.  :)

LOL @ Aaron - it sounds like you have experience with this!

Once more for the dummies - they're full stops - not periods.

Periods are something that happen to women between say, 10 and 50.

(It's so long ago now, I can't remember).

After 50 in this case Pilgrim. I'm still waiting for a full stop!

I was taught to use two spaces back in my typing class in 1987 and I still do.  I don't think I could stop putting in two spaces even if I tried.  It's far too engrained at this point.

Lol! Last I turned on the TV or opened a magazine it was pretty clear that it's no longer a secret and there are lots of people making money from it.

As for the 'full stop", I wouldn't even think about it unless typing a business document. Even then, I rarely see two spaces typed.

Including people make money from products that make periods come to a full stop (at least temporarily).

Typing class - definitely two spaces.

Computers - not necessary.  The computer does it for you.  And, I understand from Aaron's post, double spacing messes things up.   I've untrained myself to use one space.  It saves time and effort. 

Typewriters were different in many ways - the young might not know.   Each letter of the alphabet occupied a space - an"i" or an "l" occupied a space.  So did a "M" or a "W".   (As in Courier font.)   Early, manual, typewriters only had one font.   To center a heading on a page, you counted the spaces in that title.  ie  The Art of Racing In The Rain has 29 spaces.  Find the center of your page - count back 15 spaces - type the title.  It will be centered. 

Another thing about early typewriters.  The keys didn't move back and forth across the paper - the paper moved back and forth in front of the keys on a carriage - one space for each letter or space.  A typist never looked at the paper, or the keys - her eyes were on her steno pad or the document she was copying.  When she reached the end of a line, a bell would ring.  She would have five spaces remaining to finish the word, or hyphenate it, then she would lift one hand and hit the carriage return, and continue typing without glancing away from her pad.  A good typist could reach speeds of close to 100 words a minute with no more than two errors per page.   There was no backspacing, no correction fluid or tape.  She could try to erase a letter with an eraser (being careful to also correct any copies she might be making with carbon paper between the sheets), but it it wasn't near perfect she typed the page again.   Typing was a real skill.

Do people even learn to type anymore?   I've watched many people just hunt and peck - sometimes with amazing speed, but not as good as it would be if they kept their fingers just above the home keys.

People definitely learn to type still, Seeler.

Yes, for sure. Now, with nothing left to say about full stops, I will take my wings and fly away from this thread!

lol, i just picked up the undercurrent in this thread.  thanks folks for the chuckle.

Undercurrent indeed...much to absorb. (enough already, sorry, I couldn't resist--it's a light day on WC- ah, there I go again)!

Wrong thread, Tabby.

This belongs in "Is there a difference between sharing and bragging?" 

giggle

trust me I\m not bragging! Just awaiting full stop.