Why do lawyers use double spaces?

Is double spacing wrong?

While some may believe that either way is right, Microsoft formally settled the space debate in 2020 and sided with everyone who thinks one space is correct, not two. The creator of Microsoft Word updated the software so that two spaces between sentences would be considered an error.

Is double spacing bad?

The answer is one. Putting two spaces between sentences, as many people learned to do in school -- and are still learning -- thanks to early monospaced typewriters "is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong," according to Slate's technology columnist, Farhad Manjoo -- and every major style guide.

Who uses 2 spaces after a period?

For this reason, you are most likely going to see all media outlets use only single spaces and you'll be expected to do so as well if you want to write for them. Based on the advice of the style guides, the only time it is acceptable to use two spaces after a period in formal writing is if an instructor told you to.

Are two spaces better than one?

According to APA's website and blog devoted to changes in the manual, they justify this change by stating that two spaces should now be used “for ease of reading comprehension” and “to ease… reading by breaking up the text into manageable, more easily recognizable chunks” (Wiederkehr, 2009).

How many spaces after a period in a legal document?

1. Always place two spaces -- no more, no less -- after a period or other punctuation ending a sentence. This rule should be applied in all instances, including those where a citation follows the period.

What formatting is legal writing?

What is the proper formatting for a legal letter?

You'll want to start with a standard page size (8.5 x 11 inches) with 1-inch margins. Keep the font simple, such as Times New Roman, and avoid the use of color. Remember to break up text with headers and paragraphs for readability.

What format does legal writing use?

The most frequently used style manual for citing to Legal Documents is the The Bluebook : a uniform system of citation. APA, MLA and Chicago Manual of Style all refer to the Bluebook for citing to certain documents such as cases.

What is the most professional line spacing?

For most text, the optimal line spacing is between 120% and 145% of the point size. Most word processors, as well as CSS, let you define line spacing as a multiple. Or you can do the math—multiply your point size by the percentage. (The text in this paragraph has line spacing of 135%.

What does double space all text mean?

If you double-space something you are writing or typing, you include a full line of space between each line of writing. Double-space the entire list. double-spaced adjective. ...forty pages of double-spaced typescript.

Should everything be double spaced?

Double space: Your entire essay should be double spaced, with no single spacing anywhere and no extra spacing anywhere. There should not be extra spaces between paragraphs. Margins: According to the MLA, your essay should have a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, left, and right.

Is double spacing easier to read?

Nicholas Christakis, a professor at Yale University, wrote: “Hurray! Science vindicates my longstanding practice, learned at age 12, of using TWO SPACES after periods in text. NOT ONE SPACE. Text is easier to read that way.

Is 1.5 or double spacing better?

Does 1.5 count as double spaced? No, but 1.5 spacing is useful in various circumstances. Depending on the font and size, a 1.5 space may be a better option for readability.

Why do you double space after a full stop?

Some of us were taught a similar rule in handwriting at school: a finger's width between words, a thumb's width between sentences. When typewriters were invented in the 1860s, the practice of having a longer space between sentences was carried over. But instead of an em-space, typists simply used two normal spaces.

Why do people put a space before punctuation?

There are even people who -- gasp -- put a space before "low" punctuation like periods and commas. While some of this comes across as sloppy Francophilia, there are people who opt for the space as a form of sentence cushioning, a way to decrease the (self-perceived) force behind their statements.

Does AP style use a double space after periods?

The Chicago Manual of Style, the AP Stylebook, and the Modern Language Association all recommend using one space after a period at the end of a sentence.

Should you double space in college?

Your essay should always be double-spaced throughout. Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the margin. Use only one space after all end punctuation. The end punctuation helps define the tone and meaning of a sentence.

What are the 4 C's of legal writing?

So four Cs: concision, clarity, coherence, completeness… cogent, it should be cogent, as well.”

What style manual do lawyers use?

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, print. The style most commonly used by lawyers and legal scholars.

What is the rule 8 in the Bluebook?

Capitalization (Rule 8) (B.7.3.1)

In headings, capitalize the initial word, any word that immediately follows a colon, and all other words except articles, conjunctions, and prepositions of four or fewer letters.