It doesn't matter anymore. Two is good if otherwise it would look messy, and I imagine it was two in the typewriter days to make it more readable, since the courier font is monospace.

Nowadays, it doesn't really matter, as Times New Roman is the new standard. Putting two spaces will help lengthen an assignment if you're having trouble with length. ;P

Another cheap trick is to increase all periods and other unobtrusive punctuation marks a couple sizes larger. It's not noticeable unless you're submitting it electronically. hehe.

micronesia

United States24799 Posts

December 15 2008 05:01 GMT

#27

I'm writing a paper right now and I'm definitely using two spaces after a period. Always have... always will.

edit: and wtf with all the people trying to artificially increase the length of your papers... how dumb is that?

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

December 15 2008 05:05 GMT

#28

I learned in elementary computer class to use two spaces but I use one now, more natural looking

Mickey

United States2606 Posts

December 15 2008 05:23 GMT

#29

I've always used one, and have never been told otherwise by a teacher.

Fontong

United States6454 Posts

December 15 2008 05:23 GMT

#30

Really, I learned it was 2 wayyy back in elementary school. Don't think the official number has changed since then.

@Micronesia: I know really, adding an extra space probably won't even get you an extra line lol. Better to make it 12.5 font and 1.15 space.

LeperKahn

Romania1852 Posts

December 15 2008 05:29 GMT

#31

It's 2... English majors will agree with me!

Chromyne

Canada561 Posts

December 15 2008 05:44 GMT

#32

I have always used two and everyone I talk to thought I was weird (they all used one). I'm glad that in at least one, possibly superficial, way it is justified.

Hot_Bid

Braavos36402 Posts

December 15 2008 05:45 GMT

#33

It's 2, for more informal papers 1 is probably okay. For stuff like government documents and court papers they are very, very anal about 2 spaces. I worked for a judge and even with justified margins (spacing of words would change every line) he could easily pick out when there was only 1 space, and would correct it out of like a 40 page opinion haha.

Spenguin

Australia3316 Posts

December 15 2008 05:46 GMT

#34

27 actually

IzzyCraft

United States4487 Posts

December 15 2008 05:57 GMT

#35

One unless the font make it look like none.

Salv

Canada3083 Posts

December 15 2008 05:59 GMT

#36

Be different, choose none.

merz

Sweden2760 Posts

December 15 2008 06:00 GMT

#37

On December 15 2008 14:23 Mickey wrote:
I've always used one, and have never been told otherwise by a teacher.

This

SayaSP

Laos5494 Posts

December 15 2008 06:17 GMT

#38

I use two because of the only time I was told to do so. No one else has had a gripe if i turn it in with 1 or 2

micronesia

United States24799 Posts

December 15 2008 06:26 GMT

#39

On December 15 2008 14:59 Salv wrote:
Be different, choose none.

I did this in third grade when I wrote an article for a class newsletter or something... I think the teacher went through the file and manually added spaces to make it readable haha.