THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF USING ALL CAPS ON YOUR WEBSITE

Ever thought about using all caps on your website? Maybe you’ve seen it on other sites and thought, “Wow, that looks bold and professional. Should I do that too?”

I get it! When you’re building your site, it’s easy to lean into trends or ideas that look good. All caps feels like it makes text pop, right? But here’s the thing: using all caps can either work for you or work against you, depending on how (and where) you use it.

So, let’s talk about all caps, when it’s great, when it’s not, and how to make sure it helps your site instead of hurting it.

Why all caps catch attention

All caps text is powerful. It stands out immediately, drawing the eye to key areas of your website. This is why you’ll often see it in branding, like logos or taglines, or in key spots like headlines and navigation menus. It gives the impression of importance and authority. Think about acronyms like NASA or major brands like NIKE—they rely on all caps to create a bold, recognizable identity.

Another reason all caps grabs attention is its uniformity. Unlike lowercase text, where each word has a unique shape due to ascenders (like the "l" in "love") and descenders (like the "p" in "play"), all caps creates a consistent block of text. This consistency catches the eye but can also be its downfall if overused.

The problem with overusing all caps

While all caps can grab attention, it’s not always a great choice, especially if it’s used too much. One big issue is readability. Studies, including one from the Harvard User Experience Lab, show that all caps slows down reading. When text is in lowercase, our brains recognize words by their overall shapes, making reading faster. All caps eliminates these shapes, forcing readers to process each letter individually.

Now, think about your customers. If some of them have visual or cognitive disabilities, all caps might make it harder for them to navigate your site. For instance, people with dyslexia or low vision often struggle to read text that lacks shape variation.

Screen readers can also misinterpret all caps as acronyms, reading out each letter instead of the full word.

If your website isn’t easy to read or navigate, you risk losing potential customers. Accessibility matters, not just for inclusivity, but also because non-accessible websites can lead to legal issues in some regions.

Smart ways to use all caps on your website

So, how can you make all caps work for you without creating problems? Start by using it sparingly. Reserve it for things like short headlines, menu items, or buttons where brevity keeps it readable.

For example, “CONTACT US” on a button works well because it’s short and clear. But an entire paragraph in all caps? That’s a surefire way to frustrate your visitors.

Another tip is to play with letter spacing. Increasing the space between letters can improve the readability of all caps text. For instance, navigation items like “HOME” or “ABOUT” are easier to read with some breathing room between each letter.

Also, think about the font you’re using. Sans-serif fonts, like Arial or Helvetica, are generally more legible in all caps than serif fonts, which have more intricate details. And whatever you do, avoid decorative or script fonts in all caps—they’re almost impossible to read.

When All Caps Work Best

There are times when all caps just makes sense. For instance, in logos, all caps can create a clean, modern, and bold look. Acronyms like NASA or FBI rely on all caps for clarity and recognition. Similarly, short navigation items or labels can benefit from all caps, as they make the text more prominent without overwhelming the user.

However, it’s easy to overdo it. If every headline, menu item, and button on your site is in all caps, the effect quickly becomes overwhelming. Instead of drawing attention, it starts to feel monotonous and can even come across as shouting.

One mistake to avoid is using all caps for lengthy text or links. Imagine an FAQ section where every answer is in all caps—it would be exhausting to read. Instead, reserve all caps for impact and use regular capitalization for longer content.

Quick Takeaways for Your Website

To wrap things up, all caps can be a great design tool, but only when used thoughtfully. Keep it short, think headlines, logos, or navigation items. Adjust letter spacing to improve readability, and always consider your audience’s needs, especially when it comes to accessibility.

Ultimately, whether all caps works for your website depends on your brand and audience. Does it align with your brand’s tone? Does it enhance the user experience? If you’re unsure, test it out. Gather feedback from your customers or use analytics to see how they respond.

Remember, your website’s job is to connect with your audience, and every design choice, including all caps, should support that goal.