Text case styles

Capitalization directly impacts how quickly and accurately users read.

• Sentence case mirrors natural language, making content easier to scan and comprehend
• Title Case can feel more formal or promotional, but it slows reading in interfaces
• ALL CAPS reduces word shape recognition, harming readability, especially for users with dyslexia or low vision

A consistent, intentional approach to case style improves accessibility and strengthens brand clarity.

Key principles for choosing and applying case styles in interfaces.

Prefer sentence case for UI text

Sentence case (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns) is the most readable and accessible style. It supports users with dyslexia by preserving familiar letter shapes and reduces cognitive load in navigation, forms, and buttons.

References:

• UX writing best practices – Google Material Design
• Capitalization – Microsoft Writing Style Guide

Use title case sparingly

Title Case can be effective for page titles, marketing headers, or editorial content. Avoid it in functional UI (navigation, labels) where speed of scanning matters most.

References:

• UX writing: study guide – Nielsen Norman Group

Reserve all caps for short, high-emphasis labels

ALL CAPS reduces readability for longer text but can work for short tags, acronyms, or CTAs (“SAVE”, “NEW”). Always test contrast and legibility.

References:

• Cognitive accessibility – WebAIM

Maintain consistency across the product

Mixing case styles arbitrarily (for example: sentence case in some menus, title case in others) weakens hierarchy and confuses users. Define case usage in the design system.

References:

• On web typography – Jason Santa Maria
• Thinking with type – Ellen Lupton

Frequent pitfalls when case styles are misused in digital products.

Overusing all caps

Long sentences in all caps are harder to read, inaccessible for dyslexia, and feel like shouting.

Inconsistent case across UI

Switching between sentence case and title case for similar elements breaks consistency.

Using title case for functional labels

It slows down scanning in navigation, buttons, and forms.

Case style directly shapes user experience.

• Sentence case is the best choice for accessibility and clarity in interfaces.
• Title Case works in editorial and marketing contexts but should be used sparingly in UI.
• ALL CAPS should be reserved for very short labels or acronyms.

Consistency across the product is critical. Users shouldn’t have to “decode” style differences.