[OS X TeX] question regarding spacing after a period

[Martin Costabel]

Ayesha Rumjahn wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I am wondering if anyone can help me. I am writing an English paper and 
> using LaTeX, I thought that I would automatically get
> two spaces (or a larger space) after each period. However, I am only 
> getting one and am confused as to why. I've tried adding \nonfrenchspacing,
> but its not working well. 

If you put \nonfrenchspacing after the line with \begin{mla}, it will work.

The mla environment explicitly sets \frenchspacing. The mla.sty gives 
this amazing advice:

%   LaTeX does not allow double spaces after periods like most term and 
research papers require.
%       When typing your paper, hit the spacebar twice as normal.  After 
you are finished with your project,
%       do a find/replace by changing all double spaces into 
(space)\(space).

It also produces truly horrible output. There should be a law against 
such style files...

-- 
Martin