William,

As one former typesetter to another, I know exactly what it is that you
are talking about here.  HOWEVER, we know that longer line-lengths can
take larger type, smaller line-lengths smaller type.  When the length of
your line, and the size of your type are well-matched, there will be less
of a problem.  Here is what the professionals have to avoid this:
1.  In advertising... especially wrapped around images... ragged right
looks best...  In fact, we had a software program which ran three lines at
exaggerated ragged, each differing from the other two by one cm.  This
worked well.
2.  When using the typesetter which permitted end-of-line decisions, we
had a set parameter, to end a line only when it was within the specified
range of millimeters.
3.  This failing, we would FIRST tighten up the size of the spaces BETWEEN
words (the diminishment of which would double between sentences), and if
necessary, we could even tighten up--or expand--the spacing WITHIN words.
In other words, it was a human being, not a machine, making the final
decisions, so that you would never see large gaps anyplace in the text.

I think that any movement towards placing just one space between sentences
is due to:
1.  Non-professional software,
2.  Non-professional standards,
3.  A desire to save space.
4.  As has been said already, everyone "publishing" these days, on the Web
and elsewhere, and not knowing the standards.

I don't know what the MLA excuse is.  I'm not too pleased with the style
standards, anyhow.  MLA or APA.  To be politically correct and conceal
gender from those who do not know the people in the field, it is all
initials being used.  That makes searches more difficult.  Most people
have italics on their word processors, but who knows when the style
manuals will permit us to go from underlining to italics!!  Of course,
there may still be a FEW people using typewriters still.

Carla Cruzan

> It just occurred to me that some people might not know why there is only
> one space after a period in printing. The main reason has to do with
> justified lines. When you justify, your word processor lenghthens every
> space between words until the line is just as wide as all other lines. If
> you put two spaces between words, both of those spaces are lengthened. The
> result looks pretty bad, especially on short lines where lots of space had
> to be added to justify them.
>
> You can occasionally see this phenomenon in amateur publications. To a
> former typesetter, it is instantly recognizable. I'm sure that other
> readers must feel that something looks wrong, even if they can't figure out
> what it is.
>
> This is what happens with modern desktop publishing--when anyone can
> produce a publication.
>
> Bill
>
> William J. McCleary
> 3247 Bronson Hill Road
> Livonia, NY 14487
> 716-346-6859
>
>