tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post8640273763262697932..comments2024-03-28T17:03:22.102+13:00Comments on AmeriNZ Blog: Two spaces or not two spacesArthur Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-25111121420221274012011-01-21T08:27:59.932+13:002011-01-21T08:27:59.932+13:00Roger: Yeah I don' get that, but then I guess ...<b>Roger: </b>Yeah I don' get that, but then I guess I don't really think about how much, if any, work is required either way. But I was truly shocked by the level of condescension, mean-spirited snarkiness and downright self-righteous prickness (if that's a word) of some of the "opponents" of single spaces. I had no idea that those folks were so touchy—and about something so hugely unimportant. I couldn't help thinking, with the way some of those people got so apoplectic over something so silly, it's no wonder we can't bridge political and religious divides!<br /><br /><b>epilonious: </b>Like you, I learned to use two spaces, but that habit's long gone. It helps that I've written on computer keyboards a LOT over the past 25 years or so. The switch was deliberate and conscious, but it's second nature to me now.<br /><br />As far as I know, all page layout software does, indeed, have find and replace (or, as I've always liked to call it, "Search and Destroy"). The truth is, I do necessary changes in Word for much the same reason as you use two spaces: It's what I'm used to.<br /><br />Not so very many years ago, the program I used had no function to change the case of letters (like all caps to normal) and the text-editing features were very rudimentary. Word simply did a better job on everything.<br /><br />Modern page layout software has every type control someone could ever want, and the text editor is much better. But word processing isn't its core function, and a program like Word is a better tool— because that's what it's all about. Also, it's actually often faster to fix the files in Word than in the huge file that is the entire publication.<br /><br />The other reason is that I'm a little compulsive about having input files that are all fixed so I can always place the document another time if I need to without having to re-do all the edits.<br /><br />All of which is just me, but the essential point is the same: The spaces need to be fixed and the time it takes to prepare a document for publication is all billable time, regardless of the specific method or program used to do it.Arthur Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-56721122050519557162011-01-21T06:34:52.835+13:002011-01-21T06:34:52.835+13:00I am going to use two spaces because it is a habit...I am going to use two spaces because it is a habit I've had since I started typing when I was about 5, and trying to tell my thumb "Don't whack the space bar twice after mashing the period" is like trying to write with my left hand or learn piano again.<br /><br />BUT, I will gladly do a ctrl-H (Find Replace) and replace ". " with ". " to documents I am sending off to be published in a non electronic manner... which I don't anticipate happening that often.<br /><br />Also, I can't fathom any publishing programs not having a find-replace program that makes it as simple as I have it in word, pages, and most other word processing programs... so I feel you are aggrandizing the scale of the chore a bit ;).epilonioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532230027733099956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-46388127168386154822011-01-21T00:28:55.001+13:002011-01-21T00:28:55.001+13:00I should note that I usually do only one space mys...I should note that I usually do only one space myself. But then again, I can't type, and two spaces would be more work. For Evanier, one space would be more work (for him).Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.com