Are there two spaces after a colon?

Just as with the period, it used to be common to put two spaces after a colon, but now most style guides that address the matter (e.g., The Chicago Manual of Style) recommend using only one space after a colon.

Is there space after colon?

But first please note the following: the colon is never preceded by a white space; it is always followed by a single white space in normal use, and it is never, never, never followed by a hyphen or a dash — in spite of what you might have been taught in school.

Are there 2 spaces after a semicolon?

Semicolons are found between words in a sentence; the semicolon is not a terminal punctuation mark found at the end of a sentence. It immediately follows the letter before it, with no space in between. There is a space after the semicolon, before the beginning of the word that follows.

What are the spacing rules for a colon?

Non-grammatical uses of the colon

The colon is used to separate hours from minutes, with no space before or after the colon. 11:35 a.m.

When did 2 spaces after a period change?

The two-space rule took hold in the early twentieth century and became the norm in many high school typing classes. Eventually, sophisticated typewriters and word processing software like Microsoft Word introduced proportional fonts, which made it easier to distinguish the period at end of a sentence as a full stop.

Two Spaces Between Sentences Is Wrong and You Should Feel Bad

Are you supposed to put 1 or 2 spaces after a period?

Unless you are typing on an actual typewriter, you no longer have to put two spaces after a period. Or a question mark. Or an exclamation point. The rule applies to all end punctuation.

Why two spaces after period is wrong?

Nearly all style guides agree that one space is correct.

It adds the contradictory disclaimer that "there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor asks you to do otherwise." NOTE: both APA and MLA are primarily academic writing guides, not business writing guides.

What is the proper way to use a colon?

What follows a colon?

Curious about colons? You've come to the right place. A colon is written as two dots on top of each other (:), and it is used to separate independent clauses among other things. A space or return is placed directly after a colon.

How many spaces do you put after a semicolon?

Place one space after a comma, a semicolon, and other forms of punctuation falling within a sentence.

How many spaces are after a colon AP?

Despite what your teachers taught and typewriters required in decades past, the number of spaces after end punctuation–and after a colon–is one.

Is there a space before a semi colon?

Modern style guides recommend no space before them and one space after. They also typically recommend placing semicolons outside ending quotation marks, although this was not always the case.

Are you supposed to put a space after a comma?

Commas separate parts of a sentence into logical elements. Commas have no meaning, but they help us to see the structure and therefore the meaning of the sentence. Put a space after a comma. Do not put a space before a comma.

How do you list things after a colon?

When listing items one by one, one per line, following a colon, capitalization and ending punctuation are optional when using single words or phrases preceded by letters, numbers, or bullet points. If each point is a complete sentence, capitalize the first word and end the sentence with appropriate ending punctuation.

What is correct spacing and punctuation marks?

With a computer, use only one space following periods, commas, semicolons, colons, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks. The space needed after these punctuation marks is proportioned automatically. Use no spaces on either side of a hyphen.

How do you list a question after a colon?

If you need to list multiple questions in a sentence, simply place them after a colon and separate them with commas or semicolons. Unless you want your reader to ask the questions themselves, there is no need to include the question marks. Bullet points are also effective at presenting questions.

Do you use semicolons in a list after a colon?

Semicolon where a colon should go

Semicolons separate items within a list, while a colon precedes and introduces a list.

Should the first word after a colon be capitalized?

When a colon introduces a list of things, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun. When a colon introduces a phrase or an incomplete sentence that is meant to add information to the sentence before it, do not capitalize the first word after the colon unless it is a proper noun.

Is it a capital letter after a semi colon?

When using a semicolon to join two independent clauses, do not capitalize the first word of the second independent clause unless the word is a proper noun, e.g., The sky is blue; the birds are singing.

What is a full colon?

A colon is used to give emphasis, present dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify composition titles. Emphasis—Capitalize the first word after the colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence.

What is the difference between a colon and semicolon?

Colons introduce or define something. The primary use of semicolons is to join two main clauses. The difference between semicolons and colons is that colons can combine two independent clauses, but their primary use is to join independent clauses with a list or a noun.

What is the floating comma called?

This final comma, known as an Oxford or serial comma, is useful in a complex series of elements or phrases but is often considered unnecessary in a simple series such as in the example above. It usually comes down to a style choice by the writer.

How many spaces after a period is legal?

Against Two Spaces

One of his recommendations on improving legal documents is to eliminate the extra spaces. He explains that the use of two spaces between sentences derives from when everyone was writing on manual typewriters.

How many spaces after a period in Canada?

However, major style books such as the Harvard Style Guide, the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, the Chicago Manual of Style and The Canadian Style, specify that there should only be a single space after a concluding punctuation mark. This rule applies to English and French.

Do you need a space after an ellipsis?

Spacing. Whether you put spaces between the dots or not is a matter of style. The Chicago Manual of Style calls for spaces between every ellipsis point. The AP Stylebook says to treat the ellipsis as a three-letter word, with spaces on either side of the ellipsis but no spaces between the dots.