Talk:All caps

Engineering Usage

One of the more common usages of all caps, at least in my experience, is in engineering drawings. Engineers and draftsmen in the US (I don't know about other places) are trained to use all caps - also known as engineering block lettering - to improve legibility, as engineering documents are frequently smudged, damaged, photocopied, and sometimes still need to be legible decades after they were originally made. It would be good to include a section for this usage. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.53.52.36 (talk) 18:49, 17 October 2012 (UTC)

Lacks References

This page lacks references of any kind. Frankly, it is an outrage. 24.18.53.152 (talk) 09:09, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

I would suggest to cite this article about readability:

Perea, Manuel, and Eva Rosa. "Does “whole-word shape” play a role in visual word recognition?." Perception & Psychophysics 64.5 (2002): 785-794.

The results are the following: high frequency words do not seem to be affected by case type, whereas there is a robust 28-msec effect of case for low-frequency words. That is: low-frequency words are more difficult to read in uppercase. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.185.181.110 (talk) 15:45, 5 December 2014 (UTC)

Wonky Text

There is a myth on the Internet that the use of capital letters is shouting. Actually, since shouting is an auditory event, the use of capital letters is not shouting. On the other hand, there are a number of internet users who regard capital letters as shouting. Therefore, if one posts in capital letters, one is sure to receive eventually a rebuke from one of these persons. Whether or not a majority of internet users agree with the shouting myth, is doubtful, since the internet has many free spirits.

Because the use of all capital letters is considered shouting, if one uses them, one is bound to receive a rebuke from someone for doing this. However, such a rebuke is worse manners than the use of the captial letters. It is analogous to someone not realizing that to rebuke someone for putting elbows on the table is worse manners than the placement of elbows on a table, as the purpose of good manners is to make one's companions enjoy the situation.

While in point of fact, capital letters are not shouting, one may reasonably conclude that if an Internet poster writes an angry message and uses capital letters for words that express anger (like "SHUT UP"), such a person has used capital letters in a way which is indeed analogous to shouting. In such a case, one may regard the poster as having bad manners. However, if a peaceful message is posted on the Internet in all capitals, such a message is not "shouting", but choice of font. And the person with bad manners is the person who complains about such a posting.

This whole section seems poorly written, unneccessary and possibly in violation of NPOV. I propose to simply append/modify the Netiquette line with "All Caps may be used for emphasis" and remove the entire section. CredoFromStart 17:16, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

Agreed -- what a blatant NPOV violation. It's really not the place of a Wikipedia article to rule on who has the best manners! WillNL 23:19, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Also agreed. It's not really necessary for the article. I'm going to pullt he last three paragraphs. --Lendorien 16:54, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Being one of the people who has been using online communications since the late 70's a BBSer, then Usenet since the mid 80's, I would have to respectfully disagree with the writer's contention that all caps representing shouting is a myth. It is a long tradition in online communications. All caps is shouting. throwing a word out in all caps is, shouting or STRONG emphasis. A sentence in all caps should only be interpreted as shouting. Consider it an element in an online version of Strunk and White's Elements of Style. In the BBS days, continuing to the Usenet days you were limited to 7bit ASCII so *asterisks* (borrowed from print editing) connoted emphasis and CAPS connoted shouting. We considered it shorthand for expressing emotion. It was very important to have some rules to keep some clarity in communication. Ekmsid (talk) 17:58, 27 January 2017 (UTC)

Why do people use all caps?

This may seem like a dumb question, but outside of those cases in which people use all caps intentionally why do people use it? Did they like the look of the larger letters? Do they have caps lock on and not know how to turn it off? It's not like modern operating systems have caps lock on by default. I'm just confused by that and was hoping that perhaps this article would offer some sort of explanation. Theshibboleth 10:15, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

"All caps is usually used for emphasis." One would think that would be clear enough... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.62.227.240 (talk) 05:16, 6 January 2007 (UTC).

      I LIKE CAPS

They do it for various reasons, be it inexperience with typing, to empasize things, or as a form of "shouting" in text-form. CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL -- Mik 17:54, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

My dad does it (nearly 80 and uses the web everyday) because he can't see lower case as easily and he is a terrible typist, strictly one finger! It looks better than all lower case. --killing sparrows 19:31, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

They both look like you aren't very smart.

Luna —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.190.199.242 (talk) 19:08, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

contractions

i'm sorry, this sounds so stupid, but i just think that having contractions such as it's, there's, etc. just looks terrible in the official article. i have changed it, keeping the example, because people just might need it. 68.57.55.30 07:47, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

allcaps used for satirical purposes

WELL IT IS, ISN'T IT?? T-1 20:00, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

:D

THIS ARTICLE NEEDS MOAR CAPS.

THANKS. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.237.228.82 (talk) 20:57, 8 May 2008 (UTC) AGREED :D96.231.161.188 (talk) 13:20, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

I"M PRETTY SURE THAT THERE HAS BEEN... I mean.. I'm pretty sure that there has been vandalisms like that... just like | THIS. So don't do it already. Thanks. Akira Tomosuke (talk) 11:42, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

VANDALISM PROTECTION

DONT YOU THINK THAT... I mean...

Don't you think that this article as well as Caps Lock might need protection since I noticed that this has become a target for vandalism, making the article too literal. Attempts like this latest vandalism by Putting Everything Into Title Case and this has been repeated several times already, just like what they did with Candlejack. Yet, a number of editors still repeat the same vandalism again and ag

Akira Tomosuke (talk) 16:28, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

Did you know?

'Cruise control for cool redirects' here —Preceding unsigned comment added by Genshihebi (talk • contribs) 07:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Well Played my friend...well playedandyzweb (talk) 19:13, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

The legal or lawful Designation in all CAPITAL letters:

Good day Ms.____________.

I previously asked if the "real party in interest" was Dorothy Oja or DOROTHY ___, the lower case proper spelling of a human beings name verses the ALL UPPER CASE spelling used in designations of CORPORATE ENTITIES I believe to be true.

Mr. ____________ responded to my question of "standing / capacity" that: "Please advise Dr. __________ that the names of the parties are the same parties whether in capital letters or small case letters. There has been no fraud or deception.

We request final payment and will provide a release to close this matter. Thanks REC"

I am most appreciative Mr. _____________ clarity. Thank him for me.

And, just to have this in as a legal fact/opinion, I would like to have an affidavit of Mr. _______________ attesting to this as a legal/lawful fact and opinion.

Once agreed to and signed, and sent to me at my address. The affidavit is attached.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. R.S. ________________

Robert _______________, Esq. Affidavit November 8, 2010 RE: DOROTHY ___ VS. RONALD _________, DDS CIVIL NO. __-1-_____-06 (___)

Being a licensed attorney in the state of Hawaii I attest to, swear to, the fact that there is no legal or lawful difference, or distinction, in any court of law in the state of Hawaii or any U.S. Federal District court, or otherwise, to the spelling of any name in all upper case letters, such as of DOROTHY ___or RONALD _______N, DDS as presented in the original complaint filed at bar against Ronald ________, DDS on or about October 2008, as opposed to lower case, proper name spelling of a human being, such as Dorothy ___ or Ronald _______, DDS. Further, I attest to, and swear that, substantively and procedurally, regarding capacity and standing or otherwise, HRCP Rule 17., the uppercase designations RONALD _________, DDS and DOROTHY ____ as filed on or about October 2008 in this matter, are the equivalent to, same as, with no legal or lawful difference, the appellations Dorothy ___ or Ronald _______, DDS. Under penalty of perjury of the laws of the state of Hawaii and U.S. Federal laws, or other laws, I declare, attest to a swear that the foregoing is true and accurate.

Signed:____________________________

            Robert _____________, Esq.

Witness:___________________________

             Evelyn ___________, Paralegal  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.234.179.62 (talk) 22:22, 7 November 2010 (UTC) 

ALL CAPS title

I thought it was kind of funny when someone changed the text of the article to all caps. However, I think it might be useful to change the title of the article to ALL CAPS, regardless of WP:MoS. Thoughts? --Airborne84 (talk) 05:21, 1 December 2010 (UTC)

Since there is no dissenting opinion, I'll make the change. It is not intended to be humorous. The title of the article is supposed to describe the article. I see no better way to describe the article (in addition to descriptive wording) besides illustrating what all caps is with the title. I understand that WP:MOSCAPS doesn't recommend this, but I believe that this is a reasonable exception. --Airborne84 (talk) 03:11, 15 December 2010 (UTC)

Wow I was just trying to be funny when i added that HTML code. I didn't realize it people would think its a good idea. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.178.206.3 (talk) 01:25, 1 January 2011 (UTC)

I was just talking about the title. Not the whole article. --Airborne84 (talk) 15:34, 1 January 2011 (UTC)

damn, that got me blocked for a week. oh well, i had fun at some other wikis. none are quite as fun as wikipedia though. i got blocked for a whole year at the assassin's creed wiki :(--70.178.198.113 (talk) 02:00, 22 January 2011 (UTC)

ALL CAPS sounds reasonable to me, too. Esp. since we have the PC LOAD LETTER article, where the same logic has been applied already. I.e. PC LOAD LETTER is all-caps for the very reason that the cruddish LaserJet dot matrix display was unable to render it like this (proof of concept): --

####   ###        #                     #       #             #     #
#   # #   #       #                     #       #             #     #
#   # #           #      ###   ###   ####       #      ###   ###   ###   ###  # ##
####  #           #     #   #     # #   #       #     #   #   #     #   #   # ##
#     #           #     #   #  #### #   #       #     #####   #     #   ##### #
#     #   #       #     #   # #   # #   #       #     #       #     #   #     #
#      ###        #####  ###   ####  ####       #####  ####    ##    ##  #### #

217.251.158.94 (talk) 10:21, 30 March 2012 (UTC)

AN INFORMATIVE APPROACH TO WRITING ON THE INTERNET IN ALL CAPS

I HAVE HEARD FOR SOME TIME THAT WRITING ON THE INTERNET IN ALL CAPS IS CONSIDERED "RUDE" OR "SHOUTING."

I HAVE RECENTLY READ ARTICLES HERE (ALBEIT OLDER DATES) WHEREIN PEOPLE HAVE SUPPOSEDLY CONDUCTED STUDIES WHICH INDICATE THAT LOWER CASE ALLOWS READERS TO READ FASTER. THAT MAY BE THE CASE IN SOME INSTANCES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE READER COMPREHENDS WHAT HE/SHE READS BETTER.

PERSONALLY, I LIKE TO TAKE MY TIME READING. READING TOO FAST MAY RESULT IN THE READER MISSING SALIENT POINTS THAT THE WRITER WISHES TO RELAY. IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH, YOU MAY RECALL A CLASS CALLED "READING COMPREHENSION" IN GRADE SCHOOL. I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS STILL TAUGHT, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY TO READ SLOW ENOUGH TO GRASP WHAT WAS BEING PUT FORTH...A STUDENT WAS TESTED TO SEE HOW MUCH INFORMATION HE/SHE REALLY GARNERED.

IN MY CASE, I FOLLOWED THE "SO CALLED" "CAP RULE" FOR YEARS AND ONLY WROTE IN LOWER CASE...THAT IS, UNTIL I HAD AN OPERATION TO REPLACE THE LENSES IN MY EYES. NOW, MUCH OF MY NEAR VISION HAS BEEN REDUCED, SO THAT NOT ONLY DO I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO READ LOWER CASE, BUT ALSO WORRY WHEN I WRITE IN LOWER CASE THAT I MIGHT MAKE AN ERROR...ESPECIALLY WHEN "SPELL CHECK" IS NOT AVAILABLE.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THIS IS FUNNY. WELL, I FIND "THAT" RUDE. AS SOMEONE POINTED OUT ON THIS FORUM, "SHOUTING" IS AUDITORY, THEREFORE WHEN I WRITE IN ALL CAPS, (AS LONG AS I AM BEING POLITE,) I AM "NOT" SHOUTING, NOR AM I BEING RUDE. I AM MERELY DOING WHAT IS MY RIGHT AND WHAT IS COMFORTABLE FOR ME. Bumfuzzled (talk) 00:17, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

Most studies' conclusions refer to the average person. 83% of people might find lower case text of a certain type to be easier to read; you might fall into the 17% that find it the same or harder to read. It's useful for text creators to know what's readable for the average reader though.

"Readability" also can be measured in various ways. For example, Miles Tinker offered: "speed of perception," "perceptibility at a distance," "perceptibility in peripheral vision," "visibility," "the reflex blink technique," "rate of work" (e.g., speed of reading), "eye movements," and "fatigue in reading." All caps might slow reading, but increase comprehension. Lots of possible variables to consider. You'd have to look at relevant studies for the text you're reading.

The important thing to understand about "shouting" is that many people perceive it as such. You may not think that should be the case, but that doesn't change it. It's useful for text designers to keep that in mind. Thanks for your interest. --Airborne84 (talk) 20:30, 23 May 2011 (UTC)

The problem is that because they used the Baudot code (largely due to memory limitations) very early computers only did capital text. Even DOS used call caps for filenames for all of it existence. Even today they are computers that only transmit things in ALL CAPS for comparability reasons. The USPS requests that addresses by in all caps.--BruceGrubb (talk) 05:04, 25 May 2011 (UTC)

Example - names

Leonardo DiCaprio on some movie credits is written as LEONARDO DiCAPRIO insteread LEONARDO DICAPRIO. Which form is correct? 83.26.183.156 (talk) 15:49, 28 April 2012 (UTC)

Possible source

This article is specific to comics, but contains some general information which may be relevant for this page. Argento Surfer (talk) 16:49, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

Any defense of All caps?

Is there any serious defense of All caps anywhere ... ever? There is often a quite belligerent insistence that all caps is easier to read from older people and disabled people who are using the Internet for the first time which I have encountered. I think the arguments for the greater legibility of mixed case made here are fairly convincing but what makes me suspicious is the apparent total lack of any argument against mixed case. Is there no such argument or have Wikipedia's contributors just failed to find it or mention it? --BenMcLean (talk) 21:01, 1 November 2014 (UTC)

All the arguments I've seen are from people on blogs or commenting online beginning with "I think", or "It seems to me". We can't use that here, especially since Miles Tinker noted that "Mere opinions are not always safe guides to legibility of print.” Of course, if a reliable source stated that certain groups of people prefer all caps for whatever reason, that could be included. But conclusions couldn't be drawn from that regarding readability or legibility. Just the preference. However, preferences are encyclopedic, as long as a WP:RS notes it. Thanks for your interest. Airborne84 (talk) 21:33, 1 November 2014 (UTC)

Do they have Key Pads in the 20th century

In relation to the text of "Scientific testing from the 20th-century onwards has generally indicated that all caps text is less legible and readable than lower-case text".

The tests applied may not be suitable to determine such a fact.

Example:

First mobile phones used ALL CAPS to denote a letter upon keypads (so phone numbers could be applied as words, like 1234-PIZZA which is faster then using small caps or hard to remember numbers)

These days however smart phones and other devices use small caps to denote a letter upon keypads. I would suspect that older persons when/if called upon to be surveyed perhaps replied in all caps while other segments of society perhaps did not have that advantage (given perhaps a fear of reprisal for using all caps)

Why does this article only cover digital/mechanical writing?

Handwriting and calligraphy are worthy of mention, and may have very different readability when all-caps are used, in comparison to digital and mechanical print. --Badger151 (talk) 17:57, 3 July 2016 (UTC)

CAPS redirects to here

but it is also an abbreviation for Computer Animation Production System, so I guess there should be a disambiguation and/or a hatnote. I could fix it, but chances are I'd do it wrong, so I'll leave the task to someone else. --Palnatoke (talk) 18:59, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Sources don't match claim

It says "Scientific testing from the 20th century onward has generally indicated that all caps text is less legible and readable than lower-case text." then gives two references, neither of which are scientific studies and therefore do not support the claim. --2601:300:4080:6230:1497:6806:1FC0:4DA9 (talk) 14:28, 6 December 2022 (UTC)

Phobia Dating

The article states:

"Messages typed completely in capital letters are often equated on social media to shouting and other impolite or argumentative behaviors. This became a mainstream interpretation with the advent of networked computers, from the 1980s onward."

This phobia only began a few years ago. Maybe 2010-2015. 79.106.203.16 (talk) 09:31, 28 February 2024 (UTC)