What’s New in APA-6? One Space or Two?
If you’re old enough to have learned to type on an actual typewriter, as I did, then you undoubtedly learned to use two character spaces (i.e., two taps of the space bar) in between sentences. There was a reason for this: Typewriter type was not proportionally spaced. Since all letters occupied the same amount of space on the page (i.e., an “i” took just as much space as a “w”), placing an extra space after the final punctuation in sentences made the breaks between sentences more readily apparent.
Then came computers—and with them, proportionally spaced type. With the advent of proportional type, extra space between sentences is automatic, making the old double-character-space rule obsolete. And with fully justified texts, the old rule becomes completely irrelevant, since flexible spacing between sentences is one of the vehicles for achieving right justification. Most major style sheets—including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Turabian—took the position that one space (not two) should be used after final punctuation in sentences.
Until now.
THE NEW RULE IN APA-6 IS
TWO SPACES BETWEEN SENTENCES IN DRAFT MANUSCRIPTS.
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APA-5, §5.11 (©2001) |
APA-6, §4.01 (©2010) |
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Space once after all punctuation as follows: · after commas, colons, and semicolons; · after punctuation marks at the ends of sentences; · after periods that separate parts of a reference citation; and · after the periods of the initials in personal names (e.g., J. R. Zhang). |
Insert one space after · commas, colons, and semicolons; · periods that separate parts of a reference citation; and · periods of the initials in personal names (e.g, J. R. Zhang). Exception: Do not insert a space after internal periods in abbreviations (e.g., a.m., i.e., U.S.), including identity-concealing labels for study participants (F.I.M.), or around colons in ratios. Spacing twice after punctuation marks at the end of a sentence aids readers of draft manuscripts.
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Making it clear that this change of rules applies to “draft manuscripts,” the new edition of the APA Manual of Style does not intend to suggest rules for typesetters of journals and books. What about writers of dissertations, theses, and academic papers? Technically, such documents are in final form, not draft. Of course, the best advice is to seek direction from the institution, program, or individual instructor. If these specify APA as the style sheet of choice, though, you should return to the old practice of using two spaces between sentences.
Using the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (16) or the MLA Handbook (7)? Then you’ll likely be sticking with the practice of one space between sentences … But more on that in future posts.
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ALBERT—Read more about this editor |  |
Working as an assistant to the Director of Career Services at Binghamton University, Zach has spent the past several years critiquing hundreds of resumes and cover letters for undergraduate and graduate students, with a particular concentration on Finance, Leadership & Consulting, Accounting, Marketing, and Management Information Systems. He has targeted cover letters and personal essays at specific placements, ranging from Creative & Marketing Internships with RockStar Games to Investment Banking positions with Goldman Sachs. Zach created a set of resume- and cover-letter-writing workshops that he presents to students; he also provides both behavioral and job-specific mock interviews to help students in their job searches. Over the years, Zach has amassed a unique set of writing and communication skills, focused on developing critical ideas and thought-provoking questions; he has also honed an eye for detail, enabling him to polish clients’ written materials to their full potential. At EME, Zach works with clients who need resumes, CVs, cover letters, and interview coaching; he also polishes the applications and admissions essays of our StudyAdvisor clients seeking placement in universities abroad.