Down the bumpy road to writing:

The Dreaded Double Space

One way for your manuscript (MS) to scream amateur is to have a double space after a period.

I know, you’re going to say—that’s how everyone has always done it—and some still do. However, the accepted practice of most publishing houses (this rule has been in place for quite a few years) is to have only one space after a period. I recently heard an editor say, “It screams amateur loud and clear.”

Why? There are many answers bandied around by the experts, but the one I’ve heard most is: When the computers replaced the old method of typing (the typewriter), the two spaces became unnecessary and were replaced with one. There you have it—a voice of authority, I think.

Don’t worry if your MS or short story is filled with double spaces after a period. I have a simple fix for replacing all those nasty little double spaces. Here are the steps.

To remove and replace the double space after a period, with your document on the screen follow these steps:

1.                    Go to the toolbar and click “EDIT”

2.                   Scroll down and click “REPLACE”

3.                   Click inside the box labeled “FIND WHAT:” and type a period and two spaces, nothing more.

4.                   Tab once, then in the box labeled “REPLACE WITH” type a period and one space.

5.                   Click on “REPLACE ALL.” See Example:

There will be plenty of food and drink at the rest stops.  In containers, we have bananas, oranges, apples, and grapes, along with bottled water.  The Busy Bee Bakery has graciously offered to supply us with cookies.  Plenty of parking is available, so bring the whole family.  Come expecting to have fun. 

This is what the screen looks like:

6.                   If you have followed and executed the steps correctly, when the program is through searching and replacing, a message will pop up. See Example: 

This is what your screen will look like.

This is what the popup message will look like.

7.                   Click “OK.” Now the double spaces are removed successfully. See Example:

There will be plenty of food and drink at the rest stops. In containers, we have bananas, oranges, apples, and grapes, along with bottled water. The Busy Bee Bakery has graciously offered to supply us with cookies. Plenty of parking is available, so bring the whole family and invite your friends. Come expecting to have fun.

That’s all there is to it. Now you are finished. You may do these same steps in all your documents to rid them of the dreaded two spaces. For some reason the Microsoft Find and Replace doesn't remove all the space. If you find this is the case, then follow the steps again to remove the remaining double spaces

Have a blessed writing day.

          Janice

PS: A little tip: you can apply this same method for any of your punctuation corrections.

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Janice Olson©   www.JaniceOlson.com