XKCD: It's more than a comic

I do one space out of convenience, but am basically entirely indifferent to the issue otherwise.

Though \\n after every sentence would be amusing. (And annoying to read.)

edited 1st Nov '13 8:35:00 AM by alethiophile

I took a typewriting course in high school where the two-space rule was drummed into my muscle memory. I do it reflexively.

Since most of what I write is printed in HTML, it doesn't matter *what* I do - it always comes out as one space anyway.

I just do one space. I never even notice when someone does otherwise.

I think it depends on which font you use. Some are easier to see a single space, and others not so much.

Why is this such a big deal in the first place?

And how did double spaces come about anyways?

Double spaces are a thing?

Use as many whitespace characters as you want, LaTeX will create the correct spacing for you. Except two newlines, that's a new paragraph.

edited 1st Nov '13 9:46:35 AM by petersohn

Double space is what I learned all the way back in 2nd grade or so. Only problem it causes is when converting from a Microsoft Works document to a Word document.

I was taught double space too, but haven't done it that way in years. Don't really know anyone else who still uses it either. Except maybe college kids desperately trying to stretch out the length of an essay.

I didn't know double space was even a thing.

Just noticed that even though I double spaced in my last post, the forum is only showing one space.

Testing. Double space.

Testing. Single space.

edited 1st Nov '13 1:17:46 PM by stingerbrg

Standard HTML rendering compresses multiple whitespace.

edited 1st Nov '13 1:23:38 PM by Fighteer

I doublespace. I kind of thought of it as equivalent to a rule of grammar, even though it obviously doesn't apply when you're using handwriting. Didn't know it was related to typewriter mechanics.

edited 1st Nov '13 1:35:10 PM by WarriorEowyn

I have no idea why double-spacing is even a thing. A single space is enough.

I

Tend

To

Just

Make

My

Sentences

Like

This

Anyway.

I single space. I always thought double-spacing was like finger-spacing where you put your finger between every single word. It's something to make sure that you are actually putting the space in when you're learning how to write/type.

When we were in first grade doing handwriting, the teacher told us one finger's space between words, two fingers' space between sentences. This worked tolerably well with first-grader hands on that double-wide paper. Less so nowadays. <_<

Of course, nowadays I write more Japanese longhand than I do English. Computers are useful.

A silver lining

I wasn't aware that the Adobe hack was so huge. I don't have an account with them (thankfully), but ... wow. Is Randall accurately representing the facts of the case?

It seems the correct figure is 38 million, but yes.

From the link you posted, emphasis mine. Also the 38 million is stated as a minimum figure.

edited 4th Nov '13 10:03:07 PM by jaustin89

In this week's What If, Jeremy Clarkson's lust for POWER makes a cougar happy.

what? We don't have the best lawnmower anymore?

Some call Ford and have them drop a V-8 in a john deere!