Re:Why did older computers and OSes use UPPER case instead o...
by danans on Thursday December 14, 2023 @03:42PM
(#38646958)
> WHY DID MOST OF THE WESTERN WORLD SWITCH TO USING NEARLY ALL LOWERCASE
It's easier to handwrite than with all Latin capitals. Also, the greater variation in size of characters makes it easier to read at higher text densities, like on the printed or written page.
And from there, it spread mostly via imitation of style. If you look at most of the scripts in the world that don't have upper/lowercase distinction, they tend to be far less blocky than uppercase Latin script, and more like lowercase.
> AND WHY DOES IT FEEL SO JARRING - EVEN RUDE - TO USE ALL CAPS?
Because we are trained to interpret all-uppercase today as form of emphasis. Emphasizing everything, especially when it's not necessary, connotes lack of social awareness. It would be similarly socially awkward to end every sentence in an exclamation mark.
It's easier to handwrite than with all Latin capitals. Also, the greater variation in size of characters makes it easier to read at higher text densities, like on the printed or written page.
And from there, it spread mostly via imitation of style. If you look at most of the scripts in the world that don't have upper/lowercase distinction, they tend to be far less blocky than uppercase Latin script, and more like lowercase.
> AND WHY DOES IT FEEL SO JARRING - EVEN RUDE - TO USE ALL CAPS?
Because we are trained to interpret all-uppercase today as form of emphasis. Emphasizing everything, especially when it's not necessary, connotes lack of social awareness. It would be similarly socially awkward to end every sentence in an exclamation mark.