Does it matter if your titles are uppercase or lowercase?

1. 60

   Don Simkovichposted 12 years ago

   I'd love to know what hubbers think on this topic. I started writing my titles mostly lowercase after writing on a site that directed writers that way. However, does it matter -- and how do you decide?

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      rebekahELLEposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Do you mean the beginning of the words capitalized or all of the letters?  I generally capitalize each beginning letter as a newspaper or magazine article does and follow basic grammar rules. There are a few different styles.
      http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/title-caps.aspx

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         Don Simkovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yep, following normal rules is what I meant.

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      Uninvited Writerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think not using proper capitalization makes a person look illiterate.

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         Don Simkovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Good thought. I think readers are used to how article titles look in magazines.

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      leroy64posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In the 1930's the design school  Bauhaus, in Germany, tried to start a trend to eliminate capitals from covers and posters.  They were focusing on graphic design.  It never actually caught on; but, the Nazi's chased them out, so I am not sure how things would have turned out.  I think someone tries to do something along those lines every decade.  My opinion is that this action is best suited to posters and billboards; however,  using lowercase letters will only catch people's attention if everyone else is using capitals.  If you are doing something you want to be permanent, or long term, just use capitals.

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      Dorsiposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      What a great question. I have always wondered this and never asked!
      
      Pretty much seems to be a writers own style of writing titles: For me, I think using caps on the important words and lowercase for words like a, and, or and to....
      
      Like:
      
      
      Ideas: Planning a Purple and Gold Wedding Theme
      
      
      reads better to me than:  Ideas: Planning A Purple And Gold Wedding Theme
      
      
      Just my 2 cents - I go by what I think looks better.

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         That Grrlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         The last (and first) word in the title always gets a capital too, even if it's something like -
         
         The Switch was Turned On
         
         I just decide myself for the words in between too. I go by how important the word is, or anything longer than 4-5 letters.

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   relacheposted 12 years ago

   WRITING IN ALL UPPERCASE ONLINE IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING.
   
   And really, people can read you just fine and there's no reason to shout.

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      That Grrlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Anything in all caps looks like spam to me. I never click those.

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3. 71

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   I've heard and read different takes on it.
   
   However, if you look at my titles, you'll see which way I went.

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      Don Simkovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yep, your titles look nice following normal rules.

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   brittanytoddposted 12 years ago

   I often find that if a hub title is all lowercase, I am less likely to read it because I assume it is poor quality.  I think titles should follow title capitalization rules.

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      Don Simkovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, that's how I meant to put -- following title capitalization rules. That's certainly what most readers are used to.

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         brittanytoddposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yeah, I think the reader trusts your article more when they see this and will be less likely to click off of your page when coming from search engines.

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   Don Simkovichposted 12 years ago

   Great. After looking at your titles, I'll start writing mine like normal titles unless I hear a compelling reason not to do so.

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   Night Magicposted 12 years ago

   When I'm searching for something on Google, titles with all caps seem to catch my attention first.  In fact, those are the ones I usually click on first.

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7. 60

   Don Simkovichposted 12 years ago

   I appreciate the input here. I'll have to go back to that site and find out why they suggested more of a sentence style. Of course, I don't think it's worth my time. So I guess either way doesn't catch the attention of search engines. I've already started reworking some of my titles to look more like magazine titles -- capitalizing the important words.

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   Pcunixposted 12 years ago

   At http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/2006-pubc … e-reviews/
   Matt Cutts said:
   
    "Google doesn’t really care much (at all?) whether your titles are uppercase or lowercase. Personally, I’d still use the “correct” case, e.g. capitalize place names, but that’s just to make the site better for users. "
    

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   SmartAndFunposted 12 years ago

   Just my personal opinion, but I hate all caps. They are so difficult to read. And as Relache already pointed out, all capt is considered shouting.

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      Don Simkovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      To clarify, the title wouldn't all caps--only the title usage like a newspaper or magazine.

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10. 87

    DonnaCosmatoposted 12 years ago

    Hi, Don, I'm really glad you started this thread because I've been wondering why some writers do this. All of my write for hire and ghostwriting clients require proper title case, so it was enlightening to learn that some companies would direct writers in a different fashion. Thanks for stimulating a lively conversation on this subject:)

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    alphagirlposted 12 years ago

    Wow! Interesting. Glad i read this. very helpful for all of us trying to improve Hubs. I think you have given me reason to review my hubs. I always though caps were used when ou wanted to make a point.

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12. 77

    Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

    I'm with Cags on this one.*
    Initial caps for titles.
    
    I am not as consistent as I should be with my subheads within hubs, tho.
    I try to at least use the same strategy within the same hub.
    I tend to prefer l/c words in subheads. Now I will need to go and look at my AP Style Guide (notwithstanding writing for a living, daily, it seems that for every rule I think I've memorized, when I double check I often find I've got it wrong ).
    
    Thanks for a great topic, Don.
    
    *Hey bud!

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13. 0

    Arlene V. Pomaposted 12 years ago

    As a former reporter, I use caps where I feel they are needed.  I find it strange to read titles in all lower case letters, and I am tempted to skip the article unless there is something there to grab my attention.  Yeah, and it better be good!  This is a trend (only lowercase letters in titles) I will not follow.

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    Garrett Mickleyposted 12 years ago

    I've always done first letter of each word Capitalized.

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       PJ Jonesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I think that writing is like other art work...it's what YOU feel at the time.  Will the reader feel you?  If some kind of emotion is felt by the reader, does it matter?

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       1. 60

          Don Simkovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, I'm sure it would work best for poetry or perhaps an article that lends itself visually to using all lowercase ... like a topic related to children or small animals, etc.
          
          EE Cummings certainly broke convention for a reason. Thanks for participating.

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    That Grrlposted 12 years ago

    I don't read some of them if they all all lowercase titles. It just looks like someone who doesn't know how to write or just doesn't care. I only click on them if I'm especially interested in the topic.

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16. 60

    Don Simkovichposted 12 years ago

    I'm changing my titles to typical capitalization ... following magazine and newspaper titles. I appreciate everyone's feedback.

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