Stop shouting!
Sometimes we receive email that looks like this:
YOU HAVE TO READ THIS ITS VARY IMPORTANT!!! THE FACTS IN THIS EMAIL ARE WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU WILL RECEIVE TODAY ABOUT THE KING OF THE GOLD MONKEY COAST AND HIS INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, SO DON’T HESITATE TO READ IT SEVERAL TIMES TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION INTO YOUR HEAD BEFORE YOU FORWARD IT TO TEN FRIENDS FOR GOOD GOLD MONKEY LUCK…
There are several reasons not to do this. For one, it is thought that text you write in all caps looks like you’re yelling at the reader. Also, and somewhat related, is that it’s rude to not take the time or care to type in mixed case.
Most important, though, is that it is hard to read. Wherever possible, the brain often reads words and phrases by shape, and more distinctive word “shapes” are formed by mixing upper and lower case words. Mixed case also assists the brain in identifying proper names, sentence structure, and so forth.
So, bottom line is that in most situations you should use mixed case in emails.
References:
Sarah Greer, Elizabeth Sowden, and Lauren F. V. Scharff; Stephen F. Austin State University (July 20, 2005). Email Format and Instructions: Influences on Reading Times, Retention, and Preferences, American Journal of Psychology Research. http://www.mcneese.edu/colleges/ed/deptpsy/ajpr/vol1/ajpr11.pdf
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