In Defense of All-Caps

On June 11, the US navy announced that they would stop transmitting internal communications in all-caps. Because lowercase messages, they said, “provide a more readable format”. It took them this long to figure that out? And then they wonder why there are jokes about Military Intelligence being a contradiction in terms?

Ok, so the rest of us non-military folks (“civilians” in military speak) always knew that convention says that if it’s all-caps, then you must be screaming. But have you ever wondered whether all-caps is ever a good thing? In the sense that all caps might convey the message better than the regular style?

Lindy West says YES (that’s in all-caps, in case you missed it). Given below are a few reasons. First off, they convey what you really feel:
“I LOVE THE UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC PUSHINESS OF ALL-CAPS. I LOVE THE BREAK FROM PROPRIETY. I LOVE THE HONESTY OF IT. I LOVE LETTING LOUD FEELINGS BE LOUD.”
Which is why, she argues:
“ALL-CAPS ARE A VITAL LITERARY TOOL AND HISTORY WILL BEAR ME OUT.”

West also trashes the readability criticism:
“OH, ALL CAPS ARE "UNREADABLE"?
CAN YOU REALLY NOT READ THIS?
CAN YOU REALLY NOT READ THIS
WHY ARE YOU SO BAD AT READING”

Besides, isn’t that how thoughts flow in our brain?
“ALL-CAPS WITH NO PUNCTUATION IS SO MUCH TRUER TO THE WAY THOUGHTS HURTLE OUT OF THE HUMAN BRAIN THAN CAREFULLY MANICURED AND PUNCTUATED SENTENCES COULD EVER BE

SOMETIMES YOU NEED THAT.”

Check out her blog to see all of it. It’s definitely worth a read.

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