Grammar when typing?
Posted by: Paul Hutchings on 28 August 2005
Does anyone have any links to an authoritative guide to the basic rules of grammar with regard to things like paragraph spacing and periods?
I'm teaching someone how to use a word processing package and I have always been taught that new sentences are a period (.) followed by two spaces, and to leave a blank line between new paragraphs as it makes is easier for the reader to read.
The person I'm teaching was taught differently, and whilst I could have been taught wrongly, it would be nice to have a decent guide as to how it should be.
cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 28 August 2005 by Steve Bull
Not sure you'll find a single guide as things like that evolve over time. Google pointed me to this
rather long list of style guides which may or may not be helpful.
There's a good style guide on the
Guardian web site though it focuses more on words and their meanings/usage rather than punctuation and lay-out.
Suspect the key is to find something you're comfortable and stick with it.
Steve.
Posted on: 28 August 2005 by David Dever
With the age of computerized typography, the necessity for two spaces between a period and the next sentence is no longer needed, nor recommended.
This was a good idea, though, in the days of monospaced typefaces on electric typewriters. The extra space clearly made sentence breaks more readable.
As for a definitive, orthodox guide to these things, consistency is probably better taught than blind adherence to rules of style (which change with the wind).
Posted on: 28 August 2005 by J.N.
Yo Paul!
Just kp it tite and smpl.
John.
Posted on: 29 August 2005 by Chumpy
It has all gone to pot since I passed my RSA Typing 1 (with credit) 34 years ago. Probably a good thing, as it is cheaper to have one 'return' space between paragraphs than to have two.
There were old (often unquestioned) rules, (English grammar/RSA training guidelines) but as has been said, the best we have now is probably consistency.
Old rules for gaining marks in old U.K. 1960s G.C.E. English 'O' level letter-envelope writing have been superseded also by 'free-for-all' approach (some of which, e.g. in sending 'business' letters/positioning of addressee details is functionally related probably to having addressee details on letter positioned so it might be displayed through 'window' envelope).
In the back of young ladies' magazines these days too there are a lot of horrendous adverts for pink rabbit vibrators, when of course rabbits should be left in peace.
Posted on: 29 August 2005 by j8hn
and aFter aLl,why shOuldRabbits havE all da FUn .
Posted on: 01 September 2005 by Guido Fawkes
