FIRED in 2007, a financial officer in New Zealand was accused of sending “confrontational” emails in bold, blue, or red capital letters. The staff, Vicki Walker only wrote, “TO ENSURE YOUR STAFF CLAIM IS PROCESSED AND PAID, PLEASE DO FOLLOW THE BELOW CHECKLIST.”

Although many colleagues complained about several emails, only one submitted a screenshot evidence. Two years after getting fired, Walker received $11,000 for “unfair dismissal” partly because her company didn’t provide a disclosure about email writing guidelines.

 

“Hey, Jim, you set me up pretty good…I WON’T FORGET IT.” – Joseph Aversa, a sales manager from Pennsylvania, wrote this ominous email to his fellow manager in 2011. Unfortunately, the ambiguous email was interpreted as a threat which violated the employee policies about violence prevention. The court eventually reversed the decision, as the neutrality of the statement stood out as not automatically a threat.

Insane stories, right?… or do I write “INSANE?!”

 

 

USING ALL CAPS AT WORK MINDFULLY

The use of all caps in communications is neither expressly forbidden nor required by any corporate regulation. Yes, there have been instances where individuals or organizations have faced legal action or complaints due to their use of all caps in emails or other forms of communication. However, these cases typically involve specific circumstances beyond just the use of capital letters. Here are a few scenarios where legal issues might arise:

Simply using all caps in emails or messages is not inherently illegal or grounds for legal action on its own. However, the context and manner in which all caps are used can sometimes contribute to broader legal issues. This is also why many companies have internal style guides or policies that recommend against using all caps excessively or inappropriately.

 

 

USING ALL CAPS IN THE MODERN ELECTRONIC ERA

1. Tone: Using all caps can come across as shouting or conveying urgency in internet communication. In professional settings, maintaining a professional and clear tone is often required and excessive use of all caps may detract from this.
2. Effectiveness: Ironically despite its imposition, all caps can be harder to read, especially in longer passages of text. This can impact communication effectiveness, particularly in emails, reports, or documents where comprehension and clarity are crucial.
3. Formality: Depending on the contextual appropriateness, (e.g., internal vs. external communication, formal vs. informal), using all caps may be perceived differently. When deciding on the appropriate formatting, it is important to consider the audience and purpose of the communication.

 

 

THE CASE OF UPPERCASE IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

In English grammar, all caps letters are typically used in abbreviations in the following scenarios.

 

Proper Nouns: When an abbreviation includes proper nouns or proper names, the initial letters are capitalized:

 

Acronyms: Acronyms are abbreviations formed from the initial letters or syllables of a sequence of words, and they are usually written in all uppercase letters:

 

Initialisms: Similar to acronyms, initialisms are abbreviations consisting of initial letters pronounced separately rather than as a single word:

In these cases, using capital letters helps to distinguish the abbreviation from regular words in the text and adheres to conventional grammatical rules for clarity and consistency. But it is also grammatically correct to use lowercase letters when spelling abbreviated nouns in certain contexts.

 

Non-Proper Nouns: When abbreviating common nouns that are not proper nouns:

 

Informal or Casual Writing: In informal or casual writing, such as personal emails, text messages, or personal notes, it is common to use lowercase letters for abbreviated nouns. This practice reflects a more relaxed style of communication where strict adherence to capitalization rules may be less important.

 

Stylistic Choices: Some writers and publications may choose to use lowercase letters for abbreviated nouns as a stylistic choice, especially if it aligns with the overall tone or aesthetic of the text.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND ITS CREATIVE AND CULTURAL IMPACT

 

“Jejemon” writing is a cultural phenomenon that originated in the Philippines around the late 2000s refers to a subculture characterized by a distinct way of typing and communicating online, particularly through text messages and social media. This type of writing incorporates numbers and symbols into words, and often uses a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, even symbols and punctuation marks, in a seemingly random manner.

Zayn Malik, the British singer-songwriter and former member of One Direction, has used aLtErNaTiNg CaPiTaLiZaTiOnS in his song titles in 2016 as a stylistic choice. This approach is primarily a creative decision made to distinguish his work visually and stylistically, rather than for any specific functional or linguistic reason.

We can theorize how Malik’s team must have made this creative decision for gimmicks such as visual aesthetic, artistic expression, brand identity, and uniqueness, but could simply be just the artist’s personal preference. This quirky choice creates a unique identifier that fans and listeners can easily recognize as soon as they spell out the song titles on the search bar.

Many artists today view their work holistically, including the presentation and packaging of their music. Altered capitalization allows them to express creativity and individuality beyond the music itself.

 

TO “CAP” OFF

Whether used in a corporate setting, in creative or in informal communication spaces like text messages, entertainment media, or social media platforms, understanding when and where to use proper capitalization in today’s generation remains an important and powerful skill for effective communication across various contexts.

Have a happy (and mindful) International Caps Lock Day!