Stop yelling at people through email!
Stop me if this sounds familiar: you’re writing a lengthy email while looking at the keys, but when you look up at the screen you realize you just typed three sentences IN ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS BY ACCIDENT. Great, now you’re screaming at the person you’re writing to.
Stop me if this sounds familiar: you’re writing a lengthy email while looking at the keys, but when you look up at the screen you realize you just typed three sentences IN ALL UPPER CASE LETTERS BY ACCIDENT. Great, now you’re screaming at the person you’re writing to.
You can have your computer tell you when you’ve accidentally hit the Caps Lock key. Here’s how to do it in two of the most common types of PCs:
Windows XP:
1. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of your screen, select Control Panel and then open the Accessibility Options icon.
2. Under the Keyboard tab, click the "Use Toggle Keys" checkbox.
3. If you also want your screen to flash when you’ve hit the Caps Lock key, go back to the Accessibility Options screen, select the Sound tab and check the "Use SoundSentry" box. Click Settings button and select "Flash active window" from the "Warning for windowed programs" drop-down box. That’s it!
In Windows Vista:
1. Click the Start button, then Control Panel and select Ease of Access (this is basically the same as the Accessibility Options in Windows XP).
2. Now select "Change how your keyboard works" and check the box that says "Turn on Toggle Keys."
Now you’ll hear a beep when you hit the Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock keys on your keyboard.
And if you want a quick keyboard shortcut to change UPPERCASE to lowercase (or vice-versa), click here.
Filed Under: Computers & Software
Funny, all the bills adressed to me in the mail have my name in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, and so does every Government document.Are they "shouting" as well?
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should write a post about "etiquette"
when and when not to use:
bold type
underline
strike
italics
caps
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As a matter of fact Not Any Of Your Business.. they probably are yelling at you. They are making sure you can actually see the name in case you get someone else's mail or they get yours (which has happened more times than should).
Actually, I find this helpful.. many a time I have accidentally hit 'caps lock' instead of 'tab' or even 'shift' and started typing in all caps. Very annoying to have to re-write everything even if it's one word or entire sentences.
Thank you for this info.
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Hey all it's not necessary to re-type anything…..MS Word has a nifty little feature to instantly switch from lowercase to Title Case to UPPERCASE and vice versa….if you aren't using MS Word or Outlook just cut and paste your text with control v and control c…..F'ING A!!
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why would anybody care if it is in caps or not? If this is all one has to worry about than their life must be perfect or really boring. As long as I can read the message I am happy. More important things to worry about than emails written in caps, which would be waaay down on the worry list.
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why would anyone care? BECAUSE IT HURTS THE EYES TO READ AN ENTIRE SENTENCE NEVER MIND AN ENTIRE PARAGRAPH IN ALL CAPS. IT'S JUST HARDER TO READ. THAT'S WHY.
As for anyone "worrying" about this issue; dude, methinks though does protest too much. Complaining about what people choose to teach each other? Man, that's taking complaining to a whole new (and talk about "boring" level). If something as benign (and actually useful/helpful) as sharing a keyboard tip sets off your "complaint center", I'd hate to see what something really worth complaing about would do to you. And just who is "worried". Geeez, it's called information sharing. It's like asking why a coach would teach his or her athlete an easier way to hit, shoot, or catch a ball? Duh.
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Eric,
Why does anyone care? Semantics; The study of how meaning in language is created by the use and interrelationships of words, phrases, and sentences. Language is power. The way we express ourselves in written and spoken word is represntative of how we see the world. If you are choosing to write in caps locks, then you are choosing to be obnoxious by electronically yelling at someone.
How does semantics shape our thought? Easily. For example, your friend pam is having a bad day, you could say the following.
"Pam is grumpy."
"Pam is grumpy right now."
The first infers that you see Pam as a continuously grumpy person. The second infers that you think Pam is grumpy at the moment, but not always.
How you express yourself shapes how you think. If you are careful with how you speak, you can actually shape how you think about others. No one has ever gotten into trouble for using their ears too much
Tim
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I think the easiest way of avoiding the problem is simply to be competent enough at typing to glance at the screen more often then every three sentences…. really. It's not hard. Believe it or not some people don't need to look either.
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I dont really mind whether or not caps r used.its actually easier to put all in caps so u dont have to remember caps on names,places etc.i've met a few touchy pple who do say im yelling if i use caps,therefore i play it safe these days and jus use lower case!typing is a skill and not all of us have it.im staring at the keyboard as i type but im getting faster now lol!recommend some free typing games please….
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I have to second what SS wrote: indeed, you should be writing with your eyes *on the screen* not on the keyboard. A typing course can be useful to that extend; it will teach you, how to place your fingers properly on the keyboard (left hand on A,S,D,F,Space / right hand on Space,J,K,L,";") and how to find all the other keys from there without looking at your hands/keyboard at all!
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This article is stupid, and so is anyone who says it's useful. Is this really such a big issue that it needs an entire article devoted to it? Just learn to type and stop being idiots.
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Here's a thought…. WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE KEYBOARD AND NOT AT WHAT YOUR TYPING? This is 2008, get with it.
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Thanks for the heads-up on this windows feature. After reading the posts, people I am glad so many of you can type. Not so happy that so many of you are so petty.
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Ah gee..why am i always the odd man out..fact is kiddies..
when old age creeps up..peering at the wee letters is very tiring on the eyes..
I FIND THE ALL CAPS MUCH EASIER TO READ..
and sadly..hear..so scream away..eh.. say whaaat..i can't read/hear you..
but then you all never gonna get old are you..;-)..heh
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Just a note folks to let you know that it may not matter to you how you type a messge, but it matters to those reading it. As someone noted above, it is very petty to get upset because someone is trying to give helpful tips. If you don't think you need them fine, but I would rather do it right because it is harder to read material printed in all caps.
Mary
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For the person who mentioned caps on mail – it is a postal preference that envelopes be all caps, as it is easier for the machines to read (not humans).
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Thanks Mary.
Reading through these comments reminded me exactly of just how petty some people can be.
I highly suggest you look into the meaning of the following three words, in the context of Roman Law.
Capitis Diminutio Maxima.
Happy digging, and Good Day
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WHAT ARE CAPSLOCK?? I DONT KNOW WHY YOURE ALL SO UPSET ABOUT BIG WORDS.
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Thanks for a very useful an appropriate article.
I've had to retype many times due to the accidental hitting of "Caps Lock". This should save some time.
It is naive to believe that matters such as this are inconsequential. In the real world, like it or not, people are judged by the way they act, speak and write. Those who choose to ignore this fact are likened to the boors who use their cell phones in theatres and restaurants.
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Thanks for the information. Some of us still prefer to speak well and to write well.
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