TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: spacing after a period... From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- AXIONET -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 8 Jul 1997 09:56:36 -0400
<dmarguli -at- CLDX -dot- COM> wrote:
>If you are working on engineering documents, you may find that >your customers would rather sacrifice the esthetic value of a >uniformly colored page
As much as I hate to dive back into this debate, I did want to mention
that the one-space rule is not just a matter of aesthetics. Or, if it
is, it's a very utilitarian aesthetic.
Classical typography is a very practical art. It doesn't favor one space
because of a subjective set of rules. Rather, it claims - on the basis
of considerable experience - that using one space makes for a more
readable page.
Now, you may want to argue that two spaces makes for more reaability. I
suggest that typographers' expertise is probably worth listening to, but
the point is debatable.
However, with all respect, I'd like to suggest that the issue is _not_
one of aesthetics vs. readability, as you seem to suggest.
--
Bruce Byfield (bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com)
Technical Writer / Job Bank Team, STC Canada West Coast Chapter
h: (604) 421-7189
"And ye may tell my kith and kin,
I never did disgrace their bluid,
And if they see the bishop's cloak,
To mak' it shorter by the hood!"
--Anonymous, "Hugh the Graham"
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
