punctuation space

noun

A space of non-variable width: ⊣ ⊢ equal to the width of a period (full stop) or comma, inserted after ⟨“⟩ or ⟨‘⟩ and before ⟨”⟩ or ⟨’⟩ (and sometimes ⟨?⟩ or ⟨!⟩), unless a punctuation mark occurs there. It is Unicode character U+2008. When using X11 input method, the conventional key combination is Compose+Space+Period.

“Many examples occur on page 204 of the 1837 New Sporting Magazine XIII.”

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Meanings

nounpunctuation space (plural punctuation spaces)

plural punctuation spaces

  1. A space of non-variable width: ⊣ ⊢ equal to the width of a period (full stop) or comma, inserted after ⟨“⟩ or ⟨‘⟩ and before ⟨”⟩ or ⟨’⟩ (and sometimes ⟨?⟩ or ⟨!⟩), unless a punctuation mark occurs there. It is Unicode character U+2008. When using X11 input method, the conventional key combination is Compose+Space+Period.

    Many examples occur on page 204 of the 1837 New Sporting Magazine XIII.

Origin

Used to give consistent presentation of quotation marks irrespective of comma or period placement.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

punctuation space. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punctuation%20space

MLA

“punctuation space.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punctuation%20space. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “punctuation space,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punctuation%20space.

Source: punctuation space on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.