Does anyone have any links to an authoritative guide to the basic rules of grammar with regard to things like paragraph spacing and periods?

I'm teaching someone how to use a word processing package and I have always been taught that new sentences are a period (.) followed by two spaces, and to leave a blank line between new paragraphs as it makes is easier for the reader to read.

The person I'm teaching was taught differently, and whilst I could have been taught wrongly, it would be nice to have a decent guide as to how it should be.

cheers,
Paul

Not sure you'll find a single guide as things like that evolve over time. Google pointed me to this rather long list of style guides which may or may not be helpful.

There's a good style guide on the Guardian web site though it focuses more on words and their meanings/usage rather than punctuation and lay-out.

Suspect the key is to find something you're comfortable and stick with it.

Steve.

With the age of computerized typography, the necessity for two spaces between a period and the next sentence is no longer needed, nor recommended.

This was a good idea, though, in the days of monospaced typefaces on electric typewriters. The extra space clearly made sentence breaks more readable.

As for a definitive, orthodox guide to these things, consistency is probably better taught than blind adherence to rules of style (which change with the wind).

Yo Paul!

Just kp it tite and smpl.

John.

It has all gone to pot since I passed my RSA Typing 1 (with credit) 34 years ago. Probably a good thing, as it is cheaper to have one 'return' space between paragraphs than to have two.

There were old (often unquestioned) rules, (English grammar/RSA training guidelines) but as has been said, the best we have now is probably consistency.

Old rules for gaining marks in old U.K. 1960s G.C.E. English 'O' level letter-envelope writing have been superseded also by 'free-for-all' approach (some of which, e.g. in sending 'business' letters/positioning of addressee details is functionally related probably to having addressee details on letter positioned so it might be displayed through 'window' envelope).

In the back of young ladies' magazines these days too there are a lot of horrendous adverts for pink rabbit vibrators, when of course rabbits should be left in peace.

and aFter aLl,why shOuldRabbits havE all da FUn .