One space or two?

By Anetra D. E. Parks, J.D., Director, Law Career Services

The national career services listserv (NALP) recently had a flurry of postings about what is proper: one space or two between sentences in a cover letter?

Most of us were taught that you should always put two spaces between sentences, but more and more students use only one space. Admittedly, when I first started here it drove me crazy every time I saw only one space between sentences. Now, I realize it is more a matter of personal preference in most situations and that consistency is key.

The Chicago Manual of Style states that the two space rule is outdated and that only one space should be used. It traces the rule back to the use of typewriters and says that in this fast-paced, technology-driven society, one space is simply more efficient.

Here at the UW College of Law, the Director of our Legal Writing Program, Professor Michael Smith teaches that "two spaces are generally preferred, but one space is okay as long as the font creates enough space between sentences and the student uses a period for the reader to easily identify sentence breaks. The main thing I tell students is 'be consistent!'"

But will employers, many of whom learned the two-space rule themselves, think your writing is subpar if you only have one space between sentences? While an employer has never complained to me, I know from personal experience that law firms may have their own preferences how things are done once someone is hired into their office. My former employer was very particular about spacing issues. 

Personally, if it is a document that is sent in the mail, I think two spaces looks better in the print format. For reading things online (like this e-newsletter) one space seems preferable. If the document is an electronic submission that will be printed out, then I recommend two spaces.

So, basically, all sentences should have two spaces between them unless you are blogging or writing for The Docket.