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Jun 27, 2025 06:00 PM
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web design tips
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Use all caps sparingly for short, impactful text like navigation and buttons; avoid for paragraphs and long headings. Increase letter spacing for readability and mix with regular text for visual hierarchy. Prioritize accessibility and user experience.
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When to Use All Caps in Web Design (And When Not To)
TL;DR: Key Points
- All caps work best for small, impactful text like labels, buttons, or navigation
- Never use all caps for paragraphs or long blocks of text
- Increase letter spacing when using all caps to improve readability
- Use sparingly to create emphasis without overwhelming your visitors
Where All Caps Actually Work
All caps can give your text a strong visual punch, but only in the right places. They're brilliant for:
- Navigation menus - Makes each menu item feel deliberate and structured
- Button text - Gives buttons more authority and makes them easier to scan
- Section labels - Helps break up content and creates clear visual sections
- Short headings - Particularly effective for subheadings under 3-4 words
The key is using them where you need immediate attention. Think of all caps as a design accent, not a default choice.
How to Make All Caps Readable
Spacing Is Everything
When you use all caps, increase the letter spacing (also called tracking). Without this extra space, all caps text looks cramped and becomes harder to read. In CSS, try
letter-spacing: 0.05em as a starting point.Keep It Short
All caps work for short bursts of text. Anything longer than a sentence becomes exhausting to read. Your visitors will thank you for keeping it brief.
Size Matters
Don't make all caps text too large. The uppercase letters already command attention, so you don't need to shout with size as well. Often, all caps text can be smaller than its lowercase equivalent and still have the same visual impact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't use all caps for body text. It's genuinely difficult to read and can make your site feel aggressive or unprofessional.
Don't use all caps for long headings. A headline like "WELCOME TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW" is exhausting before you even start reading.
Don't forget about accessibility. Screen readers may interpret all caps as shouting, and some users find it harder to process.
Creating Visual Hierarchy
Mix all caps with regular text to create interesting contrast. For example, you might use all caps for a category label ("CASE STUDY") followed by a regular sentence case headline ("How we increased conversions by 40%").
This combination gives you structure without overwhelming the reader. The all caps element acts as a visual anchor, whilst the regular text carries the main message.
FAQs
Should I use all caps for my main headline?
Generally, no. Main headlines work better in sentence case because they're easier to read and feel more welcoming. Save all caps for shorter, supporting elements.
How much letter spacing should I add to all caps?
Start with 0.05em and adjust from there. Thicker fonts usually need more spacing than thin ones.
Do all caps hurt SEO?
No, search engines don't penalise all caps text. But they might hurt user experience, which can indirectly affect your rankings.
Jargon Buster
- Letter spacing (tracking): The space between individual characters in text
- Visual hierarchy: How you organise text elements to guide the reader's eye
- Sentence case: Normal capitalisation where only the first word and proper nouns are capitalised
The Bottom Line
All caps are a useful tool when you need to add structure and emphasis to your design. But like any strong design element, they work best when used sparingly and thoughtfully.
Think of them as seasoning for your typography - a little bit in the right places makes everything better, but too much ruins the whole dish. Use them for short, impactful moments and always prioritise readability over style.