Scientists: Two Spaces After Periods Reads Faster

D-brief
By Nathaniel Scharping
May 3, 2018 1:47 AMNov 20, 2019 3:43 AM
shutterstock_17767384.jpg

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

(Credit: Shutterstock) Here's a sentence. Here's another one. Notice anything? If you're like me, you're probably rolling your eyes right now. Using two spaces after a sentence seems to serve no other purpose today than to signify that the typist probably learned their keyboard skills in another era. And it's pretty annoying, to boot. Nevertheless, there's a minority of purist (or simply contrarian) keyboard warriors who hold that the two-space rule is actually the right way to go. Indeed, no less an association than the American Psychological Association in its manual recommends using two spaces "for ease of reading comprehension."

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group