Double period? as in I would check with your Human Resources Dept..?

Question

Do you end the sentence with one period or two because of the abbrevation? I think one looks more normal but whos knows. lol.

Answer 1

One period (in the UK we call them full stops). If you add another period, it gives the impression of a certain vagueness, letting things hang in the air. However, it would be perfectly all right to add a comma to the word "Dept" in the middle of a sentence, if appropriate.

Answer 2

One period

Answer 3

One period. Typographic rule.

Answer 4

To me, a "double period" was two hours instead of the standard one hour of a (usually) hated school subject. However, I agree that one "full stop" (as we call them in the UK) looks more normal.

Answer 5

Good question...  I'd use just one period.  It doesn't look right otherwise.  Or maybe type out department.  

Answer 6

"When an abbreviation appears at the end of a sentence, use only one period: The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C."

"If the abbreviation ends a declaratory sentence there is no additional full stop immediately following the full stop that ends the abbreviation (e.g., My name is Michael Dukes, Jr.) This is called "haplography", as logically there should be two full stops (one for the abbreviation, one for the sentence ending), but only one is conventionally written. In the case of an interrogative or exclamatory sentence ending with an abbreviation, a question or exclamation mark is still added."