# If you spell 'scuba' in all caps, why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849 "2018-07-13T17:15:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849/41 "2018-07-17T00:22:44Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Well, the answer is still that it started as an acronym and some people still follow acronym usage because they want to. That doesn’t change no matter what your personal opinion is or the opinion of dictionaries or editors. Yeah, it’s basically archaic usage at this point, but still legit. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849/42 "2018-07-17T01:14:22Z")
^^Well, yeah. M-W revoked its ‘acronym only’ status at least 40 years ago. I’d say at this point, it’s archaic. Anyway, carry on, prescriptivists! ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849/43 "2018-07-17T02:15:30Z")
I was an instructor at a school for a long range navigation system. We called it LORAN. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849/44 "2018-07-17T05:28:13Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Somebody should have told that to JFK Jr. Too soon? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849/45 "2018-07-17T06:01:34Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Too soon? 19 years, give or take a few hours. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849/46 "2018-07-17T06:05:26Z")
Well, an experienced pilot would not have lost his head. I guess it runs in the family. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-spell-scuba-in-all-caps-why/817849.md?page=2)