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Spacing

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.
 
Incorrect: The reasonable person would not simply leave a ditch uncovered in an unfenced yard! Instead, such a person would fence in either the yard or the ditch.

Correct: The reasonable person would not simply leave a ditch uncovered in an unfenced yard! Instead, such a person would fence in either the yard or the ditch.

Incorrect: The Supreme Court has written that the state may place restrictions on the right of a woman to have an abortion after the fetus has reached the point of viability outside the mother's womb. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 163 (1973).

Correct: The Supreme Court has written that the state may place restrictions on the right of a woman to have an abortion after the fetus has reached the point of viability outside the mother's womb. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 163 (1973).

2.  Place two spaces after a period even if the period is at the end of a citation sentence.

Incorrect: The Supreme Court has written that the state may place restrictions on the right of a woman to have an abortion after the fetus has reached the point of viability outside the mother's womb. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 163 (1973). The question of when viability occurs has caused great controversy.

Correct: The Supreme Court has written that the state may place restrictions on the right of a woman to have an abortion after the fetus has reached the point of viability outside the mother's womb. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 163 (1973). The question of when viability occurs has caused great controversy.

3.  Place one space after a comma, a semicolon, and other forms of punctuation falling within a sentence.

Incorrect: The ruling, which infuriated advocates of a free press, was based upon the clear-and-present-danger test.

Correct: The ruling, which infuriated advocates of a free press, was based upon the clear-and-present-danger test.

Incorrect: The court dismissed the plaintiffs' Eighth Amendment claim; however, it allowed the First Amendment claim to go to trial.

Correct: The court dismissed the plaintiffs' Eighth Amendment claim; however, it allowed the First Amendment claim to go to trial.

4.  In typing or word processing, a dash is formed by placing one space before and one space after two consecutive hyphens.

Incorrect: The judge knew the defendant--he had been her third husband--and she therefore recused herself.

Correct: The judge knew the defendant -- he had been her third husband -- and she therefore recused herself.

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