How to use MS Word 2007 to find spacing mistakes in your writing

Did you know that there is only supposed to be one space at the end of a sentence? In this video demonstration, I'll show you how to set up MS Word 2007 to highlight any extra spaces between your sentences, and also how to correct all of the extra spaces in a document at once.

For more basic writing and editing tips, please visit www.forcoacheswhowrite.com.

Comments

[Linda Dessau]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for your comment! You're right - typesetting guidelines from publishers used to require two spaces after a period, and some style guides and academic settings still demand it. For online writing, though, the extra space is unnecessary and will stand out and look incorrect. Space is so precious on the web - please don't waste an inch of it!

Best wishes,
Linda

[Doug S]

Then why does Word 2007, default out of the box, hilight all of the "one spacers" as needing to be fixed?

According to my Shipley Style Manual, printers typically use one space. So, if it is a manuscript to be sent for publishing in a book, then one space is acceptable.

Comments/corrections welcome.