Re: spacing after punctuation?

Here is my opinion, and it is just that. I like two spaces after a period
for semantic reasons.  A sentence is the smallest complete
meaningful object you can construct with words and punctuation.  I think it
deserves a special full stop.
The study was really good. Very careful. I liked the conclusion. The double
space helps as a statical measure, but the functional difference may not be
enough to make a real difference to users.

Best, Wayne

On Tue, Oct 15, 2019 at 5:59 PM Shawn Henry <shawn@w3.org> wrote:

> Oh, dear, this got my attention and brought back memories!
>
> Briefly, my understanding is that:
> * In the days of typewriters with fixed-width font, the standard was two
> spaces after periods. (or, more accurately, after “terminal punctuation”,
> including periods and explanation marks and question marks)
> * Variable width fonts, sophisticated kerning, and such made two spaces no
> longer needed for most readers to clearly distinguish the end of sentences.
> * Once "desktop publishing" (DTP) made these common-place, professional
> publications went to single space after periods.
>
> One thing to note is that two spaces after periods increases the
> likelihood of “rivers of white”[1]. From a low vision perspective, this is
> significantly increased with some things we do to increase legibility and
> readability. That is, I think often two spaces after periods *decreases*
> readability for some readers with low vision.
>
> Of course, there are some for whom two spaces after periods increases
> readability – including some with low vision who cannot easily see periods
> and some with certain cognitive disabilities. Thus, I would support extra
> space after periods being an option, and would oppose it being a suggested
> practice.
>
> (I also wonder about the priority of it. My initial feeling is that it is
> fairly low priority compared to other things needed to improve readability
> by people with cognitive, learning, and visual disabilities. Yet, I have
> not researched this particular point since about 1995. :-)
>
> ---
>
> > https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13414-018-1527-6
>
> Quote: "It should be noted that the paragraphs used in the current
> experiment were presented in a monospaced fixed font.”
> Quote: “Inter-line spacing was quadruple…"
>
> It is very good that they clearly stated the font and the line spacing.
> And, I think that makes the study nearly irrelevant for today’s text.
>
> (side note: I found it interesting that people who type one space had
> reading speeds of 85, 82, 78, 79; and people who type two spaces had
> reading speeds of 72, 70, 71, 74. That is quite a difference.)
>
> ---
>
> A little relevant background: I was a trained and professional technical
> writer and editor in the late '80s and early '90s – near the start of the
> DTP era. (yup, with my early Mac, PageMaker software, and LaserWriter
> printer ;-) At that time, there was a strong feeling in the DTP field that
> one space after period was the sign of a professional, and two spaces was
> the sign of an amateur or old school typewriter training.
>
> Personally, whenever I get a document with two spaces after periods, it is
> one of the first things I customize – replace with one space. I cannot say
> how much of this is due to past indoctrination that it is amateurish, and
> how much is to improve readability and cognitive processing for me.
>
> OK, I've said enough for now. :-)
>
> Best,
> ~Shawn
>
> [1] rivers of white https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_(typography)
>
>
> On 10/15/2019 12:57 PM, Jim Allan wrote:
> > is spacing after punctuation (e.g. 2 spaces after period) an issue for
> low vision folks?
> > https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13414-018-1527-6
> >
> > --
> > Jim Allan, Accessibility Coordinator
> > Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
> > 1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
> > voice 512.206.9315    fax: 512.206.9452 http://www.tsbvi.edu/
> > "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." McLuhan, 1964
>
>