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Q&A Using capital letters for shouting

Text in all capitals is harder to read than text in mixed case: A 1955 study by Miles Tinker showed that “all-capital text retarded speed of reading from 9.5 to 19.0 per cent for the 5 and 10-m...

posted 11y ago by Monica Cellio‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T03:13:11Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/9542
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T03:13:11Z (almost 5 years ago)
Text in all capitals is [harder to read](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_caps) than text in mixed case:

> A 1955 study by Miles Tinker showed that “all-capital text retarded speed of reading from 9.5 to 19.0 per cent for the 5 and 10-minute time limits, and 13.9 per cent for the whole 20-minute period.” Tinker concluded that, “Obviously, all-capital printing slows reading to a marked degree in comparison with Roman lower case.” (found via [this post on UX](https://ux.stackexchange.com/a/11046/5400))

In the case of a single word this probably doesn't matter, but for consistency you will want to use the same style everywhere in your work that calls for extra shouting. Will that always be just a word or two? Full sentences in all-caps are likely to impede your readers.

Another option is to use italics, which has long been the typography standard for [emphasis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emphasis_(typography)). Emphasis isn't the same as shouting, but it may convey your intent in context. However, in fiction specifically, be aware that sometimes italic text is used to [convey thoughts rather than speech](https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/1124/1993).

So there is no perfect solution. In making a decision consider all the places in your work where you will need to apply it.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2013-11-24T22:21:52Z (almost 11 years ago)
Original score: 5