Does all caps bother you?

[CountVanBadger]

While proofreading XNPC, it occurred to me that I've gotten into the habit of using all caps when one of my characters yells. I know that's not considered professional, and I can't think of any professionally published books that do it off the top of my head. I think it works all right in a comedic setting, but what about in a more serious setting? Does it bother you? Which of the two examples below looks better to you?

“Ashes,” she grumbled as the woman turned on her heel and pointed a finger directly into her face.

“Thief! Help!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs. “Guards! Somebody! Thief! Help!”

or

“Ashes,” she grumbled as the woman turned on her heel and pointed a finger directly into her face.

“THIEF! HELP!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs. “GUARDS! SOMEBODY! THIEF! HELP!"

 

[pangmida]

For me, it depends on how loud they're yelling. The tag "at the top of her lungs" definitely warrants all caps for me in this case.

 

[NotaNuffian]

It bothered my boss as he scolded me right in front of the entire team for using all caps in word.

 

[Nym]

For me, it depends on how loud they're yelling. The tag "at the top of her lungs" definitely warrants all caps for me in this case.

I AGREE

 

[L1aei]

While proofreading XNPC, it occurred to me that I've gotten into the habit of using all caps when one of my characters yells. I know that's not considered professional, and I can't think of any professionally published books that do it off the top of my head. I think it works all right in a comedic setting, but what about in a more serious setting? Does it bother you? Which of the two examples below looks better to you?

For me, all caps doesn't read as a normal shout but should read as a full-on scream. It feels like the character is not just trying to be heard, but is broadcasting panic or alarm to everyone nearby; it's desperation in their voice. Because of that, we usually expect all-caps to be used sparingly, especially in serious fiction, where it can feel abrasive to our audience.

Either way you use it, those all-caps should feel wrong.

 

[CinnaSloth]

I think context matters.
What am I writing?

A man is being sawn, sawed? Cut in half. He shouts.
1.
"Ah. No . Please. Don't. stop."
-He's a magician, and he's being cut by his beautiful assistant.
2.
"AH! NO! PLEASE! DON'T! STOP!"
-He's a random npc being murdered by a madman.
3.
"Ah! NO! PLEASE, DON'T STOP!!"
-man during S&M play (Punctuation also matters.) lol

 

[HouseOfUkiro]

It bothered my boss as he scolded me right in front of the entire team for using all caps in word.

Damn. I’ve been scolded in front of everyone. It’s f*cked up tbh.

 

[NotaNuffian]

I think context matters.
What am I writing?

A man is being sawn, sawed? Cut in half. He shouts.
1.
"Ah. No . Please. Don't. stop."
-He's a magician, and he's being cut by his beautiful assistant.
2.
"AH! NO! PLEASE! DON'T! STOP!"
-He's a random npc being murdered by a madman.
3.
"Ah! NO! PLEASE, DON'T STOP!!"
-man during S&M play (Punctuation also matters.) lol

Why does no. 3 give me a crotch rope vibe?

 

[CinnaSloth]

Why does no. 3 give me a crotch rope vibe?

Maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something. lol

 

[Azhurie_Mythephan]

It does not bother me that this is in all caps, because it bolsters my ability to imaging the scenario.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Usually I see it done for single words, not entire sentences. "GUARDS!" He cried at the top of his lungs, "Guards! Get in here NOW!" type stuff. And that's rare (I use it occasionally myself).

 

[TinaMigarlo]

For me, all caps doesn't read as a normal shout but should read as a full-on scream. It feels like the character is not just trying to be heard, but is broadcasting panic or alarm to everyone nearby; it's desperation in their voice. Because of that, we usually expect all-caps to be used sparingly, especially in serious fiction, where it can feel abrasive to our audience.

Either way you use it, those all-caps should feel wrong.

I learned to use it very sparingly if at all.