Keep Your Thumb From Doing Double-time
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If you’re old enough to remember being taught to type on an actual typewriter, you were probably taught to add two spaces after the end of a sentence. The reason for this was because typewriters had a fixed amount of space for each character.Because of this, it was hard to distinguish where one sentence ended and the other began. Adding two spaces helped bring this separation out.
The Computer Is Not A Typewriter.
When computers came onto the scene, their ability to make more efficient use of the space for each character made this separation unnecessary. Yet, you’ll still find double spaces here and there (e.g., emails, websites).
Is it a cardinal sin to add two spaces? Nope, but why continue making your thumb do double-time when typing when it’s not really necessary? Just think how much time you’ll save typing.
[tags]tips,typewriting[/tags]

August 12, 2007 at 12:06 am
Heh, luckily I’m not that old.
August 12, 2007 at 12:13 am
Hehe…the transition to the single space genre is slow. I still have people looking at me funny when I explain what they’re doing isn’t necessary. Double spacing may be an accepted practice, but definitely (hopefully?) on its way out.
August 12, 2007 at 10:13 am
Haha I remember that! I hated having to type anything using a typewriter
August 12, 2007 at 11:54 am
Okay, my nice comment about this just went into a black and white error screen mode….
…trying again…cause I’m curious if I can get it to go through, but golly, I don’t want to retype the other message!
August 12, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Hi Hummie, black and white error screen? Haven’t heard of that, so if it keeps happening please let me know. Thanks for stopping by!
August 12, 2007 at 12:39 pm
When I was taught typing, they said to do double spaces, and this was with a computer. However, I’ve almost never done that, except if it was being graded
Of course, if you’re working in straight HTML, if you do a double space, only one will be counted
Sephyroth
http://www.sephyroth.net/
August 12, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Hi Sephyroth, that’s an excellent point, which strengthens the reason for not doing it at all.
August 12, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Oh yeah, I remember those double spaces
However I don’t think I’m guilty doing them on the computer
August 12, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Great minds think alike.
August 12, 2007 at 8:13 pm
I am guilty. I do the double space. I did it right there twice. AAAaaaaahhhhhh! I have never in my life typed on a real typewriter. It was just what I was taught and it is habit. I thought it was still okay to do, so never thought TWICE about it. ha ha!!
August 12, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Oh that’s okay, Jennifer. Habits are hard to break. If you’re comfortable with it, then that’s what matters.
August 12, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I learned to type on a manual typewriter. And I’ll be honest, it’s a hopeless prospect in getting me not to do the double-thumb thing. I’ve been typing for so long that it just comes natural. I’m too old to learn new tricks.
LOL
August 12, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I hear ya! If it’s that natural, then you’re doing just fine.
August 13, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I’m also guilty of the double space. I’m doing it in this comment even! Old habits die hard. I guess I’ll keep doing it.
August 13, 2007 at 9:58 pm
It’ll be our secret.
August 14, 2007 at 4:53 am
My thumb is too fat to NOT add two spaces here and there. Sorry. (#)
August 14, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I think they have an ointment for that you may want to check into.