How much space should be left after a question mark at the end of a paragraph?

After a question mark at the end of a paragraph, the standard practice is to leave one space before starting the next sentence. This convention aligns with general typing and printing guidelines developed over many years, which dictate that one space is sufficient to indicate the end of a sentence, allowing for clear readability and proper formatting.

Historically, some typists were taught to use two spaces after a period at the end of a sentence for better clarity, particularly in typewritten documents. However, with modern word processing and sophisticated font technology, the emphasis has shifted to a single space being adequate. This single-spacing ensures that text appears clean and maintains an even flow.

Leaving no space or utilizing half a space would not conform to standard writing practices and could lead to confusion or make the text appear cluttered. Using two spaces, while once common, is generally viewed as outdated in contemporary digital typing standards. Thus, the preference for leaving one space after a question mark is both a stylistic choice and a norm in the modern written language.