Janice Lozano
In November 2018, Leeds Trinity University in England was accused by the Daily Express of banning capital letters to avoid frightening students. The article claimed that the university told professors not to use all capital letters to avoid frightening students. However, this was a distortion of a memo that instructed staff to write in a helpful, warm tone, avoiding officious language and negative instructions. The memo did not ban capital letters, but recommended a consistent style and good communication in assignment instructions. In September 2021, a similar incident occurred when a professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada announced that text on the website of the office of indigenization and decolonization would be rendered in lowercase letters (except for Indigenous words) as part of an effort for historical-cultural recognition of Indigenous peoples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the memo | November 2018 |
| University | Leeds Trinity University, England |
| Type of memo | Guidance, not a mandate |
| Purpose of the memo | To improve clarity for students |
| Scope of the memo | ALL-CAPS TYPING |
| Reaction to the memo | Several misleading articles |
| University's response | The university never banned capital letters |
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What You'll Learn
- Leeds Trinity University did not ban capital letters
- The memo was referring to all-caps typing, not the use of capital letters
- The memo was guidance, not a mandate
- The memo was based on national best practice teaching guidelines
- Mount Royal University banned capital letters for historical-cultural recognition
Leeds Trinity University did not ban capital letters
The university issued a statement clarifying that the memo was based on national best practice teaching guidelines and was intended to improve clarity for students. The statement also emphasised that the university did not ban capital letters and that the memo was guidance, not a mandate. Leeds Trinity University lecturers also refuted the claim on social media, stating that they had never been told to stop using capital letters.
It is important to note that the original article and subsequent media coverage distorted the contents of the memo and took its recommendations out of context. The university's statement and the lecturers' responses emphasize that the university did not ban capital letters and that the focus was on providing a personal and inclusive learning experience for students.
The incident highlights the potential for media outlets to sensationalize and misrepresent stories, particularly when it comes to education and social issues. It also demonstrates the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking when encountering such headlines and stories.
Overall, the Leeds Trinity University capital letter "ban" was a misunderstanding based on selective interpretation of an internal memo. The university never intended to ban capital letters and the story was a result of media sensationalism and a lack of context.
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The memo was referring to all-caps typing, not the use of capital letters
In November 2018, an article was published in the British tabloid the Express, which claimed that Leeds Trinity University had banned the use of capital letters to avoid "frightening" students. The article mentioned a leaked internal memo that instructed staff at Leeds Trinity's school of journalism to "write in a helpful, warm tone, avoiding officious language and negative instructions".
However, this claim was misleading and grossly distorted. Leeds Trinity University never banned the use of capital letters. The memo in question was referring to the use of all-caps typing, not the use of capital letters at the start of a sentence or for a proper noun. It was meant to provide guidance on improving clarity for students and was not a mandate.
The memo was based on national best practice teaching guidelines and was intended to inform lecturers on how they could help students reach their full potential. It was related to \"unpacking sessions\" that teachers have with students when handing out assignments, ensuring that students are clear on the expectations and requirements of the assignment.
The university stated that they were proud of their approach to teaching and learning, which included following national best practices and providing a personal and inclusive university experience. They clarified that the memo was guidance from a course leader to academic staff, sharing best practices to improve teaching and communication.
Lecturers at Leeds Trinity University also refuted the claim on social media, stating that they had never been told to stop using capital letters.
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The memo was guidance, not a mandate
In November 2018, an article about a leaked internal memo from Leeds Trinity University in England sparked controversy. The memo instructed staff to "write in a helpful, warm tone, avoiding officious language and negative instructions". While the memo did suggest avoiding the use of capital letters for emphasis, it did not ban their use.
The university clarified that the memo was based on national best practice teaching guidelines and was meant to improve clarity for students. It was guidance for lecturers on how to better support their students and was not a mandate. The memo did not impact how students rendered text, and Leeds Trinity University never banned the use of capital letters.
The university's statement emphasised that sharing recommendations to inform pedagogical practice is standard at universities worldwide. They also highlighted the difference between making recommendations and imposing outright bans. Lecturers at Leeds Trinity also refuted the claim, stating that they had never been told to stop using capital letters.
The media coverage of this incident sparked strong reactions, with some outlets using rage-bait headlines such as "Capital letters are now 'officially racist'". However, there has been no official declaration that capital letters are racist. The original story, which failed to reproduce the full text of the memo, led to misleading articles and think pieces that criticised the university's approach.
In summary, while Leeds Trinity University's memo did suggest avoiding the use of capital letters for emphasis, it was guidance and not a mandate. The university never banned the use of capital letters, and the media coverage and subsequent reactions were based on distorted interpretations of the memo.
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The memo was based on national best practice teaching guidelines
In November 2018, Leeds Trinity University in England published a statement clarifying that a memo that was leaked to the press was based on "national best practice teaching guidelines". The memo was intended to guide lecturers on how to help students reach their full potential. It was referring to the "unpacking sessions" teachers have with students when handing out assignments. The memo was also about good communication and consistent style.
The memo did not ban capital letters, but rather recommended that lecturers "generally avoid using capital letters for emphasis" and "avoid a tone that stresses the difficulty or high-stakes nature of the task". The university's statement clarified that the memo was guidance from a course leader to academic staff, sharing best practices from the latest teaching research. The university affirmed its commitment to providing a personal and inclusive learning experience that supports every student in realising their potential.
The media coverage of this story sparked controversy, with some outlets claiming that the university had banned capital letters to avoid frightening or upsetting students. Headlines such as "When it comes to snowflake student rules, letters ban caps the lot" and "University lecturers told DON'T USE CAPS as it frightens students" caused outrage and prompted lecturers at the university to refute the claims on social media.
It is important to note that the memo did not impact how students rendered text and did not mandate any specific style of writing. The university's statement emphasised that the memo was offering guidance, not imposing a ban, and that the goal was to improve clarity for students rather than avoiding scaring them with words.
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Mount Royal University banned capital letters for historical-cultural recognition
In September 2021, a professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Linda Manyguns, announced that she would be rendering all text on the website of the Office of Indigenization and Decolonization in lowercase letters (with the exception of Indigenous words). This decision was made as part of an ongoing effort of "historical-cultural recognition" for Indigenous peoples. The announcement came shortly after the discovery of thousands of unmarked graves where Indigenous children were buried at a Canadian boarding school.
In her announcement, Professor Manyguns acknowledged the multidimensional struggle for equality that Indigenous peoples have been engaged in since time immemorial. The use of lowercase letters on the website was intended as a beginning effort to describe the work of the Office of Indigenization and Decolonization. The professor recognized the persistence of colonial oppression and the devaluation of diverse Indigenous cultural heritages.
Mount Royal University's decision to ban capital letters on a specific website was a symbolic gesture of solidarity and recognition of the struggles faced by Indigenous communities. It is important to note that this decision was not made to scare students or avoid triggering them. Instead, it was an attempt to resist and challenge power structures that oppress and devalue Indigenous cultures.
The discovery of the unmarked graves at the boarding school in Canada brought to light the tragic history of colonial oppression and the ongoing struggle for equality faced by Indigenous peoples. Mount Royal University's decision to use lowercase letters on a website dedicated to indigenization and decolonization was a response to this tragic discovery and a step towards acknowledging and addressing colonial oppression.
While the university's decision may have sparked debate and attracted media attention, it is essential to understand the context and intentions behind it. The banning of capital letters on the website was a deliberate choice to prioritize Indigenous words and highlight the ongoing efforts for historical-cultural recognition and equality for Indigenous communities.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Leeds Trinity University in England never banned capital letters. In November 2018, the Daily Express misinterpreted a memo that was sent to staff at Leeds Trinity, which instructed them to "write in a helpful, warm tone, avoiding officious language and negative instructions."
The memo asked staff to avoid using all-caps typing and to refrain from using a tone that stresses the "high-stakes nature of the task." The purpose of the memo was to improve clarity for students and ensure they were clear on what was expected of them.
While there was no outright ban on capital letters, a professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada announced in September 2021 that she would be using lowercase letters on the website of the office of indigenization and decolonization as part of an effort toward "historical-cultural recognition" for Indigenous peoples.
The decision to use lowercase letters was made in recognition of the struggle for equality and the acknowledgment of colonial oppression that Indigenous peoples have faced. The professor, Linda Manyguns, stated that the use of lowercase letters was a beginning effort toward describing the use of language in the context of indigenization and decolonization.
