How many spaces after a period, one or two?

The debate rages on. When typing, or typesetting, how many spaces should you put after a period when ending a sentance?

I was taught two, and as a force of habit I always use two.

I've heard that with old, monospaced fonts, using two spaces helps with readability, since the gaps within a word may be large, depending on which letters are used.

For modern, proportional fonts, the extra space has been described as clunky, obsolete, and unnecessary.

Therefore, I propose that everyone switch to one space when typing in a proportional font, but keep two spaces when using a monospaced font.

It will be a hard habit for me to break, and I didn't start with this post.

ONE.. Microsoft Rules.

I found it to be age dependent. Somewhere around '75 or so (for your birthday) would be my guess for the cutoff. This was actually a several day long argument at my last job, split into the 40-and-overs (who all double spaced), and the 30's and under (who all used single).

I also heard it was a font thing.

I don't think it matters much, other than savvy types being able to guess your age.

Interesting. One added wrinkle is my ipod keyboard. I can hit the spacebar twice, and it will replace the two spaces with one dot and one space.
So, from all of this information, you can guess my age and figure out what device I was using to write the message.

I learned on a Selectric II. Two spaces. Like this. Let the kids do it wrong if they like.

I have always used two and yes, I am over 40. It just looks right to me.

Quote: AZDuffman

I learned on a Selectric II. Two spaces. Like this. Let the kids do it wrong if they like.

It's only wrong until majority shifts. Clock's ticking, old timer ;)

Maybe FrG will pop in. Other than me, I think he's the only other under-40 here.

But really, though I brag about my eyesight, I cannot tell the difference in any of your posts. Now that I look, I can see it when I just quoted AZD. But once it's posted, it's far too small to draw attention.

According to my typing teacher, Mrs. Grubb, it is two spaces after a period. We learned on the IBM Selectric and were damn grateful to have them (affluent Orange County school district). About that, I'm sure she would say there can be no debate. I've been following her convention with blind obedience for over 30 years (man I'm old!).

Quote: Face

It's only wrong until majority shifts. Clock's ticking, old timer ;)

2 for me.

I wonder how much time is involved in typing one extra space over a lifetime.

Quote: Face

It's only wrong until majority shifts. Clock's ticking, old timer ;)

The majority can say 1+1=3 yet it will never be! :-)