Is your writing committing a capital offense?

You see it a lot –– writing that uses many Initial Capitals (OR ALL CAPS) Throughout The Page. If that last phrase looks a little weird to you, that's because the last four words don't need capitalization. In fact, capitalizing those words has practical drawbacks.

1) Over capitalization diminishes the importance of words that actually should be capitalized. John Smith drives a Volvo to work is an example of good usage. However, John Smith Drives a Volvo to Work brings too much attention to words of limited importance (Work) and detracts from words that should actually be capitalized.

2) Over capitalizing is discouraged in the standards of English usage, and labels the author as an amateur.

What about using all caps in headlines and text?

All-cap headlines go in and out of fashion. People who study eye movement tell us that using all-caps discourages readership. Apparently, the eye and brain can't handle it easily. Try reading this: THE REASON YOU SHOULD OWN AN ELECTRIC CAR AND SEND YOUR GAS GUZZLER PACKING. Not easy, right? Case closed. Upper case, that is.

EXCEPTION OF NOTE:

Short, standalone phrases (like the above) work in all caps. Two or three words back to back are easy to read. Do you read me loud and clear? Good.

Next, learn more about hyphens.