As a blogger I get lots of “helpful” emails. You know, with suggestions on how, what and who to write about. It’s awesome. I also get the usual snarky comments. Those are awesome too. My favorite was an email telling me that I’m using the word awesome wrong. Awesome.
Anyway I’m open to all commentary. When a helpful reader sent me a clip of a New York Times article on the abuse of the em dash (-), I didn’t take offense – and I certainly didn’t stop using it – ahem.
But last week I got an email telling me to stop putting two spaces after a period. This helpful, anonymous reader informed me that I no longer have to follow that golden rule.
Wait. What?
She even sent me a helpful illustration.
Apparently when I learned to type, on an actual typewriter in the dark ages known as the 80s, the rules were based on spacial issues – not right and wrong. Typewriter letters were in monospace (all letters get the same amount of room) and smarty party computer letters are in proportional space (different letters need different amounts of room). Basically, more letters fit within a given space. And because this reader obviously knows me, she sent me a picture to illustrate.
So boom.
The rule is no longer needed. Did you all know this? Did I miss this announcement? Was there a tweet? The only people who use two spaces anymore are the same people who still leave voicemail messages. ME!
All those red marks from all those teachers that programmed me to leave two spaces after punctuation are non-existent.
Thanks for nothing Mrs. Manning. 2nd grade was almost unnecessary. Ok, got it. I’ll catch-up. My new world is about twerking, getting semi-nude to board a plane and Ebola – awesome.
wifemothereventplanner 
Oct 15, 2014 @ 09:01:56
Ha! The good news is, you didn’t miss anything! I know only because I worked around a lot of graphic designers in the early 2000s. When they saw me double spacing they handed me a copy of “The Mac/PC is Not a Typewriter,” which set me straight. The bad news is, that was a while ago. . . . so it took you a decade or so to get caught up. Placed end-to-end, the extra spaces you’ve typed over the years would probably reach the moon . . .
Ignore that New York Times article—embrace the em dash! I’d be mute without it—I use it so much, I no longer let autocorrect fuse my double-hyphen, but use the shortcut instead: OPTION+SHIFT+ – .
Oct 15, 2014 @ 10:40:53
Mr. T – you speak the truth. Also – you didn’t say “I pity the fool” like I expected you to…
Oct 15, 2014 @ 09:07:28
Chicka Boo, Chicka Boo….Don’t cha just love it.
(someone will remind me of my grammatical error and placement)
Oct 15, 2014 @ 10:41:16
I really do love it cityfella!
Oct 15, 2014 @ 10:56:29
I use these things… the three dots… or periods… I can’t stop… I’m sure there is a rule about it… It might even have a name… the three dots, not the rule about the three dots… but I am carful to only put one space after the third dot… so… uh… yeah…
Oct 15, 2014 @ 10:58:45
I see your three dots…and raise you a dot….I love them too. Dot, spaces and em dashes forever!
Oct 15, 2014 @ 11:00:26
Oh yeah…………………………………………..-……………………………………………………………………………….
I also do this when I can’t think of anything to say:
…ooo000ooo…
Oct 15, 2014 @ 11:12:44
ha. Somehow I think you always think of something to say 🙂
Oct 15, 2014 @ 11:41:00
Okay… you may be right about that… thanks.
Oct 15, 2014 @ 17:05:03
Re: dots—I pity the fool who’s never seen this classic moment from “The Office”:
Oct 16, 2014 @ 08:24:20
Love it!
Oct 17, 2014 @ 22:55:08
LOL ! I do dots and exclamation points all the time !!!!!………..