Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
aspiring; desirous of success; requiring great effort
conversant
ambitious
comfortable
distinctive
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Correct spacing



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
"An appointment board" vs "An appointments board" | 'Me' versus 'Myself'
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Correct spacing #1 (permalink) Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:26 am   Correct spacing
 

I wonder,are there any rules in English ,that regulate the issues of spacing ?That is ,the punctuation marks are to be placed immediately after the last word-no space is required. However,the space is required after the commas,dots,questions marks etc ...

does it make sense? I think, the text is easier to read if these simple rules are obeyed, however the vast majority of people simply ignores them...
_________________
my game is fair play
Aereal
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 149
Location: England (the new one)

Correct spacing #2 (permalink) Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:36 am   Correct spacing
 

Hi Alex, yes the punctuation rules also cover the spaces and of course a text is much easier to read if the spaces are in the correct places. It is interesting that many learners who ask how they can improve their English don't follow the basic punctuation rules and try to invent their own instead. Interestingly enough, I see a lot of Americans leaving two spaces between sentences and I wonder if this is old-fashioned style or accepted standard.

TOEIC listening, photographs: Two types of transportation
Torsten
Learning Coach
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 14503
Location: EU

Can you find all the prepositions in this story?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Start exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English course
Correct spacing #3 (permalink) Wed Nov 22, 2006 20:28 pm   Correct spacing
 

Hi

Quote:
However,the space is required after the commas,dots,questions marks etc ...

I never learnt special English rules for spacing.
Luckily, main rules (like the quoted one) are the same as in my first language - and I do it automatically (thanks to my strict school teacher :)).

As a matter of fact, sometimes I see something different and unusual to me - like such use of double hyphen:
Mister Micawber wrote:
I've never heard your first 'rule' about which-- I think it is apocryphal.

and take it 'as it is' and without any cry :)
But I myself don't use it.
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Correct spacing #4 (permalink) Wed Nov 22, 2006 20:54 pm   Correct spacing
 

Torsten wrote:
Interestingly enough, I see a lot of Americans leaving two spaces between sentences and I wonder if this is old-fashioned style or accepted standard.
8)
I was specifically taught that there must be two spaces after both a period (at the end of a sentence) and a colon when I took my typing course many, many moons ago and I've never changed this habit. However, that "rule" may well have changed in the meantime. One thing that drives me crazy is no space at all between sentences. Lots of Germans do this. Is/Was this taught in schools here, Torsten?

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA

Correct spacing #5 (permalink) Wed Nov 22, 2006 20:59 pm   Correct spacing
 

Hi Amy, I think leaving no space between a sentences is simply a bad habit that makes reading any text difficult. I can't imagine that this was taught in any school. Maybe those Germans who are doing this have difficulties typing a text?

TOEIC listening, photographs: Sending a message
Torsten
Learning Coach
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 14503
Location: EU

Correct spacing #6 (permalink) Thu Nov 23, 2006 18:44 pm   Correct spacing
 

The Germans I know all have nice and understandable spacing :)
however, one of my colleagues, for some reason, adds three spaces at the beginning of each line... looks very weird!
_________________
my game is fair play
Aereal
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Nov 2006
Posts: 149
Location: England (the new one)

Display posts from previous:   
"An appointment board" vs "An appointments board" | 'Me' versus 'Myself'
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
Participles clauses: 'Not having any boyfriend...'Function of Present ParticipleSo + Adj vs So that"so are you" versus "so do you"The phrase “like nobody’s business”Grammar correction: 'The trauma she was going through...'Expression:'Then who are you some ghost...?'"how do u make do anything" what does it mean?Expression: 'I like it! I'd had...'Which or that?'Email appended below' versus 'Appended below email'Plural or not (spam emails vs. email spam)Grammar correction: 'The house was covered in its...'

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail