# Use Capitals!!!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 12, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143 "2002-09-12T18:35:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/21 "2002-09-13T02:47:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\*No. Sorry, you’re not allowed. > > Signed, > > The SMDB Capitalization Enforcement and Tight Sphincter Committee. \*\* hehe… that cracked me up 🙂 and, **Mangetout** … i meant _every_, not _every other_… it’s those hamsters i tell you… they’ve gotten into my brains… i think they’re chewing on my capitals too… p.s. as you can see, i also like using “…” a lot… ofcourse, it pisses me off when - - - **DougC** - - - uses those annoying - - -es everytime he posts. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/22 "2002-09-13T05:20:41Z")
Yo, **Jonny5** , I agree… I’m just not as opinionated as thou. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/23 "2002-09-13T06:25:23Z")
i’ll give your demand serious consideration. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/24 "2002-09-13T10:29:32Z")
**xash** , just call 'em “xashes” and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/25 "2002-09-13T20:25:12Z")
I KNOW A WORSE HABIT THAN NOT TYPING WITH CAPITALS. BTW, the tight sphincter comment made me laffmysoxoff. thx ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/26 "2002-09-14T04:14:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Well it doesn’t bother me a lot if you don’t check your spelling (acquire / aesthetic), but it doesn’t help your cause (to look educated). Merriam-Webster lists esthetic as a variant spelling of aesthetic. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/27 "2002-09-14T05:12:54Z")
Here’s an old thread on the subject: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=56329](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=56329) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/28 "2002-09-14T06:59:48Z")
Here we go again. It’s too easy, might be considered hazing… Oh well, here it goes. Your own thread subject has two major flaws: 1. The excess of exclamation marks makes you look like a fool who is desperate for attention. (i.e. Mommie!!! Mommie!!!) 2. Considering you used punctuation (far too much of it) in your title there is absolutely no reason that you should capitalize the second word in the title. If you had left it alone (without punctuation) it could be read as a title, not a sentence (as in book titles or the like). But you went and turned it into a sentence. Kinda Like This One!!! Good day. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/29 "2002-09-14T07:22:15Z")
e. e. cummings is coming to kill you ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/30 "2002-09-14T07:24:25Z")
so is archy ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/31 "2002-09-14T11:58:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Derleth \* > \*\*so is archy \*\* Hey! Archy had an excuse! You can’t jump onto the letter you want to type AND the shift key at the same time, you know. e.e. cummings I’m willing to cut a bit of slack; after all, he had to grow up with the last name ‘cummings’. Imagine the torment he had to endure at the hands of his peers. But for those of you who do not use capitals, I have this to say: YOU, sir (or madam), are NO e.e. cummings! (unless you are, in which case I’ll let it slide this time… and can I have your autograph? And would you mind writing one about me? Something along the lines of “Astroboy comes in on little cat feet…” would do nicely. (yes, I know cummings didn’t write that, but the only cummings work I can think of right now is something about a ‘wee-footed puddle jumper’ or something, and I don’t have wee feet, so I went with a different poem which I trust cummings could emulate with little or no effort should he choose to give it an attempt in hopes of appeasing me so that I’d quit following him around asking for his autograph and a personalized poem and that I might also end this catastrophically long run-on sentence in a logical, if ill-considered manner.)) And you should never start a sentence with the word ‘and’! It indicates that you have not completed the previous thought! And don’t EVER use more than one exclamation point!!! It makes you look silly. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2002, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/32 "2002-09-14T20:19:26Z")
> [@](#): > > and those milliseconds, when accumulated over the years i’ve spent typing on the internet, account for a lot of time. Actually, they don’t account for anything. See, the way the shift key works is, you press it and the key you want capitalized _at the same time_. Those precious milliseconds you’re worried about losing on the Shift key are already being wasted on pressing some other key anyway. So please capitalize. It shows you respect the language, your audience, and your self. Also, I never, ever, _ever_ read posts that don’t use proper capitalization. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/33 "2002-09-15T03:31:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Astroboy14 \* > **e.e. cummings I’m willing to cut a bit of slack; after all, he had to grow up with the last name ‘cummings’. Imagine the torment he had to endure at the hands of his peers.** As I mentioned somewhere or other in another thread, I once had a student, a female student, named B.J. Cummings. I never cracked a smile, because I am apparently superhumanly professional. [sub]OK, I laughed about it outside of class.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/34 "2002-09-15T12:08:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jackelope \* > \*\* > > As I mentioned somewhere or other in another thread, I once had a student, a female student, named B.J. Cummings. I never cracked a smile, because I am apparently superhumanly professional. > > [sub]OK, I laughed about it outside of class.[/sub] \*\* I’ve had several students here in Korea with names like “Yoo Suk Mi”, “Oh Yoo Suk”, etc. Sometimes it’s hard to keep a straight face!😃 ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/35 "2002-09-15T17:48:11Z")
you know, I read the posts to get what the posters have to say. If the spelling is a bit off, its okay. Don’t be so nit-picky. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/36 "2002-09-15T20:41:37Z")
> [@](#): > > you know, I read the posts to get what the posters have to say. If the spelling is a bit off, its okay. Don’t be so nit-picky. There’s a difference between meaning to follow the rules of grammar and making a mistake (through either accident or ignorance), and deliberatly avoiding the rules of grammar because your lazy. The first is understandable, the second should be punishable by being dipped into acid-filled vats. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/37 "2002-09-15T21:07:32Z")
Well [Fook Yu](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=ss&group=0295178&photo=austin_powers_withthetwins.jpg&path=gallery&path_key=0295178), and the horse you rode in on. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/38 "2002-09-15T21:47:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > Also, I never, ever, _ever_ read posts that don’t use proper capitalization. \*\* You read, responded to and even quoted **vanilla’s** post, though the initial capital was missing. Are we in the Pit? Good. you lying suck-ass dog!!! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/39 "2002-09-20T00:06:53Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Bryan Ekers_ > You read, responded to and even quoted vanilla’s post, though the initial capital was missing. I never read posts by people who are easily whooshed, either. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143/40 "2002-09-20T02:59:25Z")
Des Moines reason for using capitals is to let people know where sentences Raleigh begin and which words are _important_. Reading a text without capitals is like walking with a Little Rock in one’s shoe. Getting the capital-deficient to write correctly is like Lansing a boil, of course; it hurts, but it feels so good when it is over. Of course, we should conduct this discussion as between Pierres, attempting to reach Concord on the subject. If we can agree, we will feel the relief of Augusta wind on a hot, stuffy day. Otherwise we will find ourselves going to Helena basket. (I once knew a writer who was harshly Boston all his works by an evil editor, but at least they could agree on using capitals.) (Juneau that if you can Lincoln the thread that **rowrrbazzle** provided you can find a lot of the same harsh words that have been posted in this thread?) OK. I used capitals. Happy, now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-capitals/128143.md?page=3)