ALL CAPS Meaning and
Definition
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All caps, short for "all capital letters," refers to the practice of writing or typing text in which every letter is in uppercase or capital form. This technique is characterized by the absence of lowercase letters or anything else except capital letters. When a text or written content is entirely presented in capital letters, it is said to be written in all caps or in "block capitals."
The use of all caps is primarily employed for emphasis or to draw attention to a particular section or word of a message. It provides visual emphasis, making the text stand out from the rest of the content. It can serve various purposes such as indicating shouting or raising the volume of a certain word or phrase, expressing anger or frustration, conveying urgency, or denoting the importance of a particular piece of information. It is often implemented in headlines, headings, titles, slogans, logos, or any other text that demands instant attention or wants to make an impact.
However, using all caps excessively or inappropriately can give the impression of shouting or being overly aggressive in written communication. Its excessive use can also make the text difficult to read and may be considered rude or unprofessional. Therefore, it is important to exercise caution and wisely apply all caps when necessary, considering the context and purpose of the message.
Etymology of ALL CAPS
The term "all caps" is a shortened form of "all capital letters". The word "capital" originates from the Latin word "capitalem", which means "of the head" or "related to the head". In medieval Latin, "capitalem" referred to "chief" or "principal". Over time, it came to denote the large, distinguished letters that appeared at the beginning of important sections of text in manuscripts. Eventually, these larger letters became associated with capital letters in general, which are regarded as the "head" or "major" type of letterforms in alphabets. "All caps" is used to describe text written entirely in capital letters.
