odd typing tic

[winterbadger]

I've noticed recently a couple of people who post online who don't have any problem with spelling or grammar but who seem unable (or unwilling) to put spaces after their punctuation.

In other words,like this.It looks strange,don't you think?I'm trying to figure out the reason.Is it some new fad?I don't know.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Maybe they're posting from their cell phones?

I think the best cure for this would be to force them to read old Latin manuscripts written before the invention of the interpunct (a dot the Romans put between words to show where one word ended and another began.) The whole history of orthography is fascinating, but it all started with the interpunct.

[winterbadger]

Man, o man! There is a HUGE example of letters patent on display at the Folger Library right now as part of their Henry VIII exhibit. It is probably at least 3' x 2', with a seal the size of a salad plate. And apart from some respectable white space around the edges and an illuminated capital (with a wee picture of the king! :-) it is all line after line of veryverytinywritingwithalmostnospacesbetweeenwords, I think blackletter/Gothic minuscule.

Iwas able to make out a few words and phrases here and there (naturally, it's all Latin), but as for reading it.... yeesh!

[winterbadger]

This is not the same document I saw, but it's the same type and form. That seal is about 6"-8" in diameter.