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Web Needs Extra Space

Have you noticed that spaces between sentences are much narrower on the Web? Where there should be enough room for two spaces, there is only one space for majority of the web pages (I wouldn't be surprised if its 99%). This is due to a quirky rule in the HTML syntax that truncates contiguous whitespaces into a single space.

What amazes me is that most people don't notice or complain about it. If this happened in the real world, there would have been an uproar well before Evening Edition. My guess is that people are more willing to adapt in new environment.

By the way, UserLand Radio does put an extra space between sentences.  Above two paragraphs were handcoded in HTML to show how bad it would have been.  Great job, Dave!

Comments
When using proportionally spaced fonts you should never put two spaces after a period. This is something typing teachers taught you improperly. http://www.webword.com/reports/period.html has more detail.
Huh? I learned to type 25 years ago when punch cards were still exciting. I put two spaces to remind myself and my reader to breath while reading which helps to relieve eye strain as well as other more obvious benefits.
Actually, Knight Ridder did eye track research and found out that white spaces increased eye strain. I find that it looks unprofessional in proportionally-spaced fonts. Most professional typesetters (see Robin Williams books for more evidence) agree with me.
Without knowing the circumstances surround the research, I'll stick with my own eyeballs. Besides, I seriously doubt that widening few gaps between sentences by a single space increased eye strain. My paragraphs usually contain only two to five sentences. Searching for a sentence in that paragraph is difficult for me without that extra space because I tend to recognize sentences by how it starts.

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