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Missperfect_❤️'s avatar

This is such an insightful essay that delves into our generation's shift from capitalisation . It says a lot about the current generation's relationship with formality. But, using only lowercase seems like a liberation from conventions. When I read all lowercase, I think of it as a raw and unfiltered thought, something intimate. Really a wonderful essay!

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Ramya Yandava's avatar

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and to leave such a thoughtful comment, I'm so glad you enjoyed! I definitely agree with you that it does seem more raw and intimate and that probably explains a lot of its usage!

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lastly then's avatar

I write in lowercase, but I liked reading this essay and another on the same topic. I do admit there's a bit of affectation to it, yeah feels casual. Come to think of it, it looks nice when used in a note card or a 3-5 sentence paragraph. But not as well in an essay stretching more than 100 words.

My substack is actually called `lowercase letters`. I can't switch, can I?

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Baird Brightman's avatar

Good thoughts on an interesting topic, Ramya! 👏

For me, capitalized letters and punctuation and paragraphs are little way-points and rest stops in the journey through words. They provide our minds with a break and a breath and a pause before reading on. They mark off "chunks" of words which is a mental strategy for managing data. When those markers are removed, the words begin to feel like white noise to me. The extreme example is those horrifying novels consisting of one sentence. I'll never forgive ee cummings for his willful transgressions!

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Misha Nazare Rods's avatar

FINALLY! You've hit the nail on the head. I am now subscribed and will continue to follow your essays. Sometimes the avant garde works for certain aspects but overall this new style of writing feels like things are changing on the horizon. I too, have my traditional style, but reading this gives me hope!

Thank you for your thoughts.

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Conny Borgelioen's avatar

I enjoyed your discussion, Ramya. I don't like all lowercase simply for the fact that it's harder to read. I have a chronic illness and lowercase is much more tiring for my eyes, so it is a barrier for me. I think it's actually a little ableist to use all lowercase. It can work in a short poem but not in long prose.

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