Uppercase refers to capital letters. Like lowercase, the term comes from hot metal printing, where capitals, less frequently used, were stored in the upper part of the type case, further from the typesetter.
Where to see it
Uppercase is seen in headlines, acronyms, at the start of sentences and in proper names. French has kept the direct equivalent, "haut de casse", and typographers distinguish the capital, which refers to the shape of the letter, from the majuscule, which refers to its grammatical role.
Why this detail matters
Using uppercase well improves the quality of typesetting:
- Capitals give authority and solemnity to a headline or a logotype, which is why they are so often used in luxury;
- A text set entirely in capitals reads more slowly, which is why it is best kept for short texts;
- Capitals often benefit from slightly increased tracking, so they can breathe and stay readable.
Related term
Lowercase refers, by contrast, to small letters, stored in the lower part of the type case.