why is my word document double spacing between words

A proportional typeface (lower) contains glyphs of varying widths, creating a more traditional, pleasing appearance.Ī setting in Courier with double word spacing, as was the custom when using typewriters, which employed monospaced fonts. The hammers of a typewriter are all the same width.Įach character in a monospaced font (upper) has the same total width, requiring some glyphs to have more expanded (i) or compressed (m) designs. This made for very open-looking spacing, which (in all likelihood) prompted the adaptation of two word spaces between sentences to help create a more noticeable separation. The typefaces used in typewriters (such as Courier) were monospaced that is, designed so that all letters had a similar width – even the narrow letters such as the i and wide letters such as the m – so that they fit on typewriter hammers, which were all the same size. So how did this practice seep into contemporary usage? Along with the invention of typewriters in the 1860s came a simplified, “dumbed down” style of typing which included double word spaces between sentences – and for good reason. By then, single word spaces between sentences had become the accepted standard in commercial (metal) typesetting. This setting utilizing single word spaces is from a classic amongst type books, the big red Linotype Faces Specimen Book ,1940. This reproduction of an ad from 1885 shows both single (3 rd line) and double word spaces (all that follow) being used, presumably in order to help balance the spacing in this justified setting. More after the jump! Continue reading below↓įree and Premium members see fewer ads! Sign up and log-in today. The use of double word spaces between sentences can be seen in this justified setting from 1844, excerpted from a reproduction of a Caslon Old Face specimen catalog. Over time, this convention declined in commercial usage, and was replaced by single word spaces, which eventually became the accepted practice in professional typesetting – and one that has continued on to this day.

Double word spaces were frequently (albeit inconsistently) used in handset metal type settings, especially to help “force” justified type. Truth be known, this practice far preceded typewriters, as documented in Jim Felici’s excellent treatise on this subject. Here’s the scoop…ĭouble word spaces between sentences is a practice commonly believed to have evolved from the use of typewriters.

In fact, it is considered a serious type crime and a sure sign of an amateur. Should you put one word space between sentences or two? This question continues to be hotly debated between people in personal, professional, and educational settings, as well as in blogs, newspapers, online news resources, and even dinner parties! But for designers (or anyone setting typography as opposed to just “typing”), it should be a non-issue: double spaces between sentences does NOT have a place in professional typesetting.

Why is my word document double spacing between words