I once sent an email to a stranger, complimenting him on his craft and asking him for advice on a similar project.
The response I received was entirely in capital letters.
I panicked.
As a tech-hero, I try to encourage others who use their skills to benefit society. Most people are gracious. Unfortunately, as with any written communication, it is possible to miscommunicate intentions. I had no idea what I had done, but clearly, something wasn’t right.
What could go wrong?
Written communication lacks verbal cues and body language. People instead rely on emojis, grammatical cues, and the known rules of “text speak” to navigate modern text communication. Unfortunately, we often assume that others understand our intentions – or are operating by the same rules.
This gentleman had no idea that capitalized words in writings are typically used to convey anger, urgency, or yelling. I explained this after a profuse apology for whatever I had done, and he apologized for leaving his caps lock key enabled as he typed.
June is Effective Communication month. As you type emails, texts, and other messages to those you work with and love, consider the power you wield with your caps lock key – and use it appropriately.