# AOL e-mail address protocols? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-e-mail-address-protocols/290671 "2005-02-18T05:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ink\_a\_dink\_a\_dink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ink\_a\_dink\_a\_dink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ink_a_dink_a_dink)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-e-mail-address-protocols/290671/1 "2005-02-18T05:43:04Z")
I seem to recall a time when Caps and lowercase letters intheir various placements were of VITAL importance, else your recipient maqy never …wel…receive the mail. Does anyone happen to know the current status of this former/present regulation? Sorry for typos. Had MASSIVE oral surgery and hydrocodone is fun, but typing is even HARDER. Thanks. Inky PS - I need this for a work-oriented AND a personal-oriented mailing. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-e-mail-address-protocols/290671/2 "2005-02-18T13:40:09Z")
Nope, it doesn’t matter. [joesmith@aol.com](mailto:joesmith@aol.com) is exactly the same as [JoeSmith@aol.com](mailto:JoeSmith@aol.com) and [JoEsMiTh@aol.com](mailto:JoEsMiTh@aol.com). I’m pretty sure it’s always been that way. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-e-mail-address-protocols/290671/3 "2005-02-18T13:43:04Z")
Damn, I didn’t realize those were going to be clickable links. Don’t anybody go inundating poor Mr. Smith with lots of junk email… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aol-e-mail-address-protocols/290671/4 "2005-02-19T00:19:03Z")
Is it possible that at one time AOL’s non-standard interface would break if caps were used?