two spaces after period legal writing

asalmes

3 min read

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01-12-2024

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The debate about spacing after a period—one space versus two—has raged for decades. In the world of legal writing, however, the two-space convention stubbornly persists, despite the near-universal adoption of single spacing in other forms of writing. This article delves into the historical reasons behind this practice, examines its current relevance, and explores the arguments for and against its continued use.

The Genesis of Two Spaces: A Typewriter Legacy

The two-space convention's origins lie firmly in the era of typewriters. Typewriters used monospaced fonts, where each character occupied the same horizontal width. This meant that the characters in words like "i" and "m" were visually distinct but occupied the same space. Two spaces after a period provided better visual separation between sentences, improving readability on the typewriter's limited display.

The Shift to Proportional Fonts

The advent of computers and proportional fonts (where characters like "i" and "m" take up different amounts of horizontal space) rendered the two-space rule largely obsolete. In proportional fonts, the visual separation is adequately provided by a single space. Most style guides, including those for general writing, now recommend single spacing after a period.

Why Legal Writing Remains an Exception

Despite the shift to digital technology, many legal professionals continue to adhere to the two-space convention. Several reasons contribute to this:

• Tradition and Conservatism: Legal writing often clings to established traditions. Many seasoned lawyers learned to typewrite and were trained using the two-space convention. Changing ingrained habits is challenging.
• Readability Concerns (Debated): Some argue that two spaces improve readability in legal documents, particularly those with dense, complex language. However, this claim lacks strong empirical evidence. Modern proportional fonts offer sufficient visual separation with single spacing.
• Court and Firm Preferences: Some courts and law firms may still enforce the two-space rule in their filings, making adherence necessary for practitioners seeking to maintain consistency. This reflects institutional inertia more than inherent stylistic advantages.
• Software Compatibility: Although most word processors now handle both single and double spacing correctly, some older systems or specific formatting requirements might still necessitate two spaces for consistent formatting.

The Argument for Modernization

The arguments for moving away from two spaces after periods in legal writing are compelling:

• Consistency with Modern Standards: Adopting single spacing aligns legal writing with current style guides and practices in other fields, fostering greater clarity and efficiency.
• Improved Aesthetics: Single spacing generally leads to a cleaner, more modern appearance in legal documents.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Using single spacing saves space, especially in lengthy documents. This minor adjustment can add up significantly across a large case file.

So, Should You Use Two Spaces?

The question of whether to use two spaces in legal writing is not a matter of right or wrong but rather a pragmatic consideration. It depends on your firm's style guide, the specific court's rules, and whether you're looking to maintain traditional consistency or embrace a more modern approach.

Practical Advice:

• Check your firm's style guide: Follow your firm's prescribed formatting rules. Consistency within the firm is paramount.
• Review court rules: Some courts have specific formatting requirements for filings. Conform to these guidelines to avoid potential issues.
• Consider your audience: If you are submitting documents to a court or firm that strongly prefers two spaces, continue using it to avoid unnecessary friction.
• Embrace gradual change: If adopting single spacing, consider implementing it gradually and communicating the change clearly to colleagues.

While the two-space convention may be a lingering relic of the typewriter era, its continued presence in legal writing underscores the complex interplay of tradition, practicality, and institutional norms. Weighing these factors carefully will help you make an informed decision regarding your approach to spacing after periods in your legal writing.