Two spaces after a period

[nancylebov]

One space!

Two spaces!

I was taught to use two spaces after a period (let's take "a period at the end of a sentence" as implied for this discussion) when I learned to type on an electric typewriter, but nobody seemed to care very much or enforce the rule. I used one space because two seemed unnecessary.

I also independently invented the European style of eating meat-- fork in left hand, knife in right, and use the fork to transfer the meat to my mouth. My father didn't like it, but he wasn't a very forceful person, so that's how I keep eating. I find it impossible to empathize with people caring strongly about such things, and I wonder if I'm a little bit on the autism spectrum.

And I was feeling the same way about the spaces after a period issue, especially after reading that very bad-tempered first link. However, I've been reading a facebook discussion where at least a couple of people said having two spaces after a period really does help them read, so I'm posting a poll. It's at livejournal because they don't propagate from dreamwidth and I don't want to create the poll twice.

http://nancylebov.livejournal.com/603223.html

Comments

[twistedchick]

I am biforktional -- I eat American style in America and European style in Europe.

[lethargic_man]

What is the American way? I'm confused!

[twistedchick]

European style (at least where I was): Knife in right hand, fork in left; cut food up, then keep the fork in the left hand to eat it.

American style: Knife in right hand, fork in left, cut food up, put down knife, move fork to right hand, eat.

[lethargic_man]

And this is why the United States has never achieved anything of note: because they're spending twice the length of time as the rest of the world over their mealtimes switching cutlery between their hands! ;^b

[twistedchick]

Oh, we managed the Marshall Plan, despite the time involved in switching forks.