The way in which we write online has spawned many grammatical travesties, from abbreviated text speak to stream of consciousness sentences that completely lack punctuation. But none is more controversial than the intermittent use of capitalised words in texts, posts and emails.
Apologists might plead that capitalising a word gives it added emphasis, but most of us recoil from this typographic phenomenon because we know full well that it is a capital offence: it looks like shouting, and we associate raising our voices with anger and threatening behaviour.
We all know that shouting, in most circumstances, is considered rude. It generally signals a breakdown in communication, a desire to browbeat and harangue, an inability to curb feelings of rage and aggression. Why should we react any differently to it when it is conveyed through typography?
All-caps text dates back to the Romans, who inscribed their military achievements and trumpeted their supremacy in monumental stone letters. Lower-case letters were used for more mundane communications. While the Romans were certainly not conveying rage on their monumental arches and columns, they were certainly asserting authority.
Over time, as printing technology developed, capitals were consigned to their present-day status – used as the initial letters of proper names, to mark the beginning of a sentence, or for titles. Emphasis was added through more subtle means, for example italics, or simply by a discerning choice of words by the writer.
But with the advent of typewriters, complete with their alluring ‘Caps Lock’ key, we all became our own typographers. The strict adherence to rules that distinguished professional printers was discarded in favour of our own creative ‘typesetting’.
The computer keyboard and the smartphone, along with the internet, has placed typography at everyone’s fingertips. We spend much of our lives looking at screens and tapping at keyboards, and have become hooked on the instantaneous communication they provide.
In the process, our writing has undergone some profound changes. Speed is of the essence. We discard punctuation that we regard as extraneous, we abbreviate words, we use emojis as a visual shorthand, or sometimes to signal an emotion, such as puzzlement, irritation, boredom, frustration, which we can’t be bothered to articulate verbally.
Capital letters are physically larger than lower case and they occupy more space. They jostle meeker lower-case words out of the way and demand attention. As a reader, you feel that you have been sharply prodded or grabbed by the scruff of your neck and shaken. They are without nuance or irony.
Because using capital letters in this way is a blunt instrument, and liable to be taken amiss or resented by the recipient, it is advisable to curb this tendency, especially when you are writing in a professional context. Your colleagues and clients will not want to feel that their heads are being banged against the wall; it is much better to use words to convey emphasis, even it if takes a little longer. Consider for example the difference between the following phrases:
“As you know, TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Next month’s report MUST be on my desk IMMEDIATELY.”
“As you know, we are up against a deadline, so I must emphasise that I need to have next month’s report as soon as possible.”
Phrase like “I must emphasise”, “I should stress”, “it is very important that”, “we really should prioritise” and so on, are useful ways of conveying urgency or pressure politely. Recipients will not feel bullied or browbeaten and will be more likely to cooperate.
Socially, you should be aware that the use of capital letters can cause offence, though it’s all about context. You might feel tempted to use capital letters to convey a positive message, eg “thanks for dinner last night, it was DELICIOUS!”. But this has the effect of making you look deranged and over-excited, when using an additional word, such as “absolutely delicious” conveys your meaning much more subtly.
In general, using capital letters about an incontrovertible fact rather than a feeling is more acceptable. Consider the following:
“I’m sorry I’m running late. The train is delayed AGAIN – it’s so frustrating!”
“I’m sorry I’m running late. The train is delayed again – it’s SO FRUSTRATING!”
The first phrase conveys that the train is disappointingly unreliable, but sounds calm and rational; the second phrase communicates alarmingly strong emotions and the likelihood that bad temper will be the order of the day.
Of course, there will be times when you want to convey anger or emphasis, or when you want to shout at the recipient or rage about frustration and disappointment, and there is no reason why you should not use capital letters. But first, consider using words alone to convey your feelings, and do not make a habit of relapsing into capital letters whenever strong emotions are afoot.
Always bear in mind that the recipient of a text that uses capitals will understand that you are expressing a strong emotion, usually a negative one, and may find your message threatening or alarming. Capital letters are a blunt instrument, they do not convey subtlety and, even if you are using them ironically, sarcastically or humorously, you cannot guarantee that your message will be interpreted correctly. Why not meet the challenge of conveying these more nuanced emotions with a few well-chosen words?
