Why do you think it's acceptable to write a name with a small letter these days?

[Lana07]

Hello All,

I've just texted my manager on Teams App about my working hours after Christmas and he typed my name and another manager's name with a small letter :) answering my message.

He is 28. Is it how young people communicate these days in text messages?

@Lana07

I would never ever address anyone's name in a small letter.

Basic respect.

I never get offended personally.

The irony...

I'd just view anyone who did this as some saddo as the overuse of lower case is so early noughties.

@BigFatLiar

Same reason people don't use grammar or punctuation and do use emoji's and text speak. Just lazy. Language evolves, all those rules we learned at school get consigned to the history books (for as long as they last).

Is that why people write 'would of' and mix up they're, there and their? That isn't language evolving, that is a lack of understanding of basic grammar. Many people read fewer books these days compared to what they read on social media. Therefore they aren't routinely exposed to proof-read, grammatically correct English and they don't acquire a correct appreciation for and use of written English.

Social media - and yes Mumsnet - is riddled with poor spelling and grammar.

I agree with all of that.
I wouldn’t spell someone’s name with a lower case letter…unless it was stylised and deliberate. It’s an old-school grammar thing and I see where the OP is coming from. It is a bit ignorant.

@SpiceRat

You should have posted in Pedants Corner. Your people are over there.

Pedants' Corner.

@ErrolTheDragon

THANK YOU

Is that why people write 'would of' and mix up they're, there and their? That isn't language evolving, that is a lack of understanding of basic grammar. Many people read fewer books these days compared to what they read on social media

But it is how it evolves, by habit. We stick in the muds continue to use sentences and grammar but gradually people stop because they can't be bothered. By popular use it becomes the norm. That's how new words get added to the dictionary. If the primary purpose is to convey meaning does it really matter? We can't tell there from their when spoken it comes from the context why not the same with written communication.

We can't tell there from their when spoken it comes from the context why not the same with written communication.

There's a significant difference between the two forms of communication. With speech, there's intonation, misunderstandings can quickly be recognised and clarified. Whereas if writing is ambiguous you're stuck with it.

@ErrolTheDragon

We can't tell there from their when spoken it comes from the context why not the same with written communication.

There's a significant difference between the two forms of communication. With speech, there's intonation, misunderstandings can quickly be recognised and clarified. Whereas if writing is ambiguous you're stuck with it.

I’m so tempted to correct the punctuation and grammatical errors in this post...

I couldn't even work out what you meant until I read the first few replies. I thought you meant he replied by writing you a small letter - you knew what he meant though, right? So which is more important, clarity or capitals?

Hen2018 - you're surely not going to leave us hanging on an ellipsis?

If I was recruiting staff I would dump poorly written application forms into the shredder. Pronouns require capital letters. Good grammar is extremely important.

I think it's really slapdash actually. Names need a capital letter.

Text messages? These days? How young people communicate when texting?

You are I'm sure aware that text messages are not a method of communication that has existed since ye olden days?

Could it be that you are the one breaking protocol when communicating by text? Got to be worth consideration.

I also think you are missing a fundamental. About work.

It's important to be aware of prevailing culture in your workplace and adapt.

Your boss and iirc your bosses boss are all over the small letters fad.

Take note. You have a choice. Follow the style your manager and your managers manager use. While gritting teeth.

Or don't and continue Capitalising. Which though minor is Noticeable. And be... Different.

They pay your bills. Don't forget.

And what does not changing case say esp on phone.

• Very busy doing lots of work things! No time to capitalise! So so busy doing all the work!
• we're s team! Capitals are formal, and time consuming. I'm so busy work work work! We're on the same side. Informal = awesome close team vibes!

So you know. Do you want to be the outsider first on the redundancy hit list?

Up To You!

(This can't be real surely!).

And who writes names in text messages anyway?

Maybe you're all out of date.

Pronouns require capital letters. Good grammar is extremely important.

Is this some sort of bait?

I have a couple of friends who don't capitalise anything in online messages. I'd never say anything to them, but I really dislike it, especially as the messages are otherwise in good English. It actually feels like an affectation, since phones will automatically capitalise the word after a full stop for you.

It feels instinctively wrong with names. I struggle with not capitalising the names of people (a poet or two IIRC) who use lower case as a stylistic choice. It just looks wrong to me!

@Fridafever

Pronouns require capital letters. Good grammar is extremely important.

Is this some sort of bait?

😂

As long as it can be understood who gives a fuck.

There are millions of functionally illiterate people in UK.
And plenty who while brilliant at loads of things needed for their job, have less than brilliant spelling etc.

Judging on something like capitals in a text rather than looking at whole person is crappy in so many ways.

And in the end. It's her boss and her bosses boss she's criticising... !

Maybe they just couldn’t be bothered to? It’s a whole extra button and 1.5 seconds wasted. Life to live and all that.

Pronouns require capital letters

No, they don’t.

@Bogeyes

If I was recruiting staff I would dump poorly written application forms into the shredder. Pronouns require capital letters. Good grammar is extremely important.

You mean proper noun. If you're going to correct someone, do it correctly.

It's called "capital punishment," the most devastating insult reserved for the most deplored elders.