Common English usage misconceptions: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:49, 10 July 2022

Revision as of 03:32, 16 July 2022

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==Typography==

'''Misconception:''' ''Two spaces must follow each sentence''. Placing two word [[Sentence spacing|spaces between sentences]] is a [[typographic]] convention used since before the invention of the [[typewriter]] that has carried over into the age of digital media.<ref name="Felici 2009">[[#Fel09|Felici 2009]]</ref> Most [[style guide]]s recommend only a [[Sentence spacing in language and style guides|single space between sentences]], though some make an exception for "monospaced" typefaces.<ref name="Felici 2009"/><ref>[[#Fog08|Fogarty 2008]]. p. 85.</ref> Professionally published books, magazines, and newspapers also use a single space between sentences, but even this is widely overlooked.<ref>[[#Spe11|Spencer 2011]]</ref> [[HTML]], the [[markup language]] that is used by websites, generally ignores consecutive spaces so two spaces after the period will usually be rendered exactly the same as one space.<ref>https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Document_Object_Model/Whitespace</ref>

'''Misconception:''' ''Every [[paragraph]] must be indented''. Professionally printed material does not always have an indented first paragraph. [[Robert Bringhurst]] states that we should "Set opening paragraphs flush left",<ref name="Bringhurst 2005. p. 39">[[#Bri05|Bringhurst 2005]]. p. 39.</ref> explaining as follows: "The function of a paragraph is to mark a pause, setting the paragraph apart from what precedes it. If a paragraph is preceded by a title or subhead, the indent is superfluous and can therefore be omitted."<ref name="Bringhurst 2005. p. 39"/>