upper case
C1Technical (printing, computing), formal (writing instruction), informal (in phrases like 'shouted in upper case').
Definition
Meaning
The set of large capital letters (e.g., A, B, C) in a typeface, used typically for the first letter of a sentence, proper nouns, and emphasis.
In a broader metaphorical or idiomatic sense, to denote something of higher status, importance, or formality, as in 'upper-case letter' or the verb 'to uppercase' meaning to convert text to capital letters.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is almost exclusively used as a mass noun ('written in upper case') or as an adjective ('an upper-case A'). The hyphenated form 'upper-case' is common, especially as an adjective, but 'uppercase' (one word) is also standard, particularly in computing contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The hyphenated form 'upper-case' may be slightly more common in British style guides, while 'uppercase' as a single word is dominant in American computing terminology. The verb forms 'to upper case' or 'to uppercase' are used in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to prevalence of computing terminology.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Be + in + upper case (The title is in upper case)Verb + to + upper case (Change the text to upper case)Adjective + upper-case + noun (an upper-case letter)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shout in upper case (to write in all capitals, implying anger or emphasis online)”
- “Upper-case living (metaphor for a lavish or prominent lifestyle - rare)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In branding guidelines: 'The logo must always appear in upper case.'
Academic
In style manuals: 'Use upper case for acronyms but not for common nouns derived from them.'
Everyday
In instructions: 'Please write your name in upper case on the form.'
Technical
In programming: 'The .upper() method returns a string in upper case.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You need to upper case the first letter of the proper noun.
- The software will automatically upper case the headings.
American English
- Uppercase the title before you submit it.
- The function uppercases any string passed to it.
adverb
British English
- The word was printed upper case.
- He wrote the headline entirely upper case.
American English
- Type the password uppercase.
- The command must be entered uppercase.
adjective
British English
- Ensure you use an upper-case 'I' for the pronoun.
- The document had an upper-case header.
American English
- The uppercase 'A' looked bold.
- Follow the uppercase formatting shown in the example.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Start your sentence with an upper-case letter.
- 'A' and 'B' are upper-case letters.
- Please fill the form using upper case.
- The teacher said to write the title in upper case.
- The coding standard requires constants to be in upper case.
- Text written in all upper case can be difficult to read.
- The algorithm detects whether a character is upper case or lower case before processing.
- Her email, written entirely in upper case, was perceived as overly aggressive.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'upper' shelf where you keep more important, bigger things. Capital letters are the 'bigger' or more prominent form of the letter.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE/STATUS IS SIZE (capital letters are bigger/upper) | FORMALITY IS HEIGHT (upper case is 'higher' than lower case).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'верхний случай' or 'верхний регистр' when speaking English; use 'upper case' or 'capital letters'.
- Do not confuse with 'прописные буквы' which technically means cursive handwriting, not capitals.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'high case' (non-existent).
- Incorrectly writing it as 'upper-case' in all contexts where the single-word form 'uppercase' is required (e.g., in CSS: 'text-transform: uppercase;').
- Treating it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an upper case' for a single letter) is atypical; prefer 'an upper-case letter'.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is the term 'upper case' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, particularly in computing and technical writing, 'uppercase' as a single word is standard. The hyphenated form is also correct, especially in more traditional print contexts.
Yes, especially in computing and design contexts (e.g., 'uppercase that string'). It's more common in technical registers.
The direct opposite is 'lower case', referring to small letters (a, b, c).
The term originates from the era of manual typesetting. Printers kept the capital letters in the higher (upper) tray or case of type, and the small letters in the lower case nearby.