Upper or lower case?

THE TYPOGRAPHIC TERMS “upper case” and “lower case” refer to the wooden boxes in which typesetters stored the individual letters. Today, these terms are used describe capital and small letters.

Beginners will frequently use upper case lettering for posters because they think it stands out more. This is rarely the case:

 

UPPER CASE TEXT IS USUALLY HARDER TO TAKE IN AT A GLANCE BECAUSE THE WORDS HAVE LESS SHAPE.

Text set in upper and lower case is easier to read because the ascenders and descenders give each word a familiar shape.

Almost all important signage in the UK – road signs, information signs, public notices – is set in lower case. Compare this with road signs in other countries, such as France, which are set all in upper case: they’re very much less legible, especially when travelling at speed.

For a good example see here.


 

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