NAVY NO LONGER COMMUNICATE IN ALL CAPS


Photo: Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Adam K. Thomas/US Navy/Wikimedia

NOW HEAR THIS: THE U.S. NAVY WILL NO LONGER COMMUNICATE EXCLUSIVELY IN ALL CAPS.

THE TRADITION OF USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IS A LEGACY OF TELETYPE MACHINES OF 1850S THAT LACK LOWERCASE LETTERS. OFFICIAL NAVY COMMUNICATIONS AND ORDERS HAVE BEEN TYPED OUT IN ALL-CAPS SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY, BUT YOUNGER SAILORS SEE IT AS RUDE.

“WHILE THIS DECISION WAS MADE TO SAVE MONEY AND GAIN EFFICIENCIES, IF AN ANCILLARY BENEFIT IS THAT SAILORS READING MESSAGE TRAFFIC NO LONGER FEEL THEY’RE BEING SCREAMED AT…THAT’S A GOOD THING TOO,” SAID A NAVY OFFICIAL.

IRONICALLY, THE ORDER WAS - YOU GUESSED IT - WRITTEN OUT IN ALL CAPS.

LINK - VIA THE WALL STREET JOURNAL


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Human speech is a great example of spontaneous human order, dictionaries notwithstanding. Avoid the is-ought hassle and just accept the fact that a growing majority consider caps to be rude shouting.
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It actually takes me longer to read things written entirely in caps, personally. I think it's because it's lacking the extra clues that the lower case letters have to offer (more variation facilitates quicker differentiation).

And I read all-caps writing as yelling simply because that's how it's utilized in society. Not that difficult of a question. It's not just that it's /louder/, it's just a widely-used way to emphasize written speech.
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