Lower case

Lower case refers to the small form of letters in a given alphabet. This term is often used in contrast to upper case, which refers to capital letters. The concept of lower case letters originated from the Latin alphabet, and has since been adopted in many other alphabets around the world.

History

The use of lower case letters began in the Middle Ages, when monks in Europe started to use small letters to write faster and more efficiently. This practice was later adopted by printers during the Renaissance, who created separate types for lower case letters in their printing presses.

Usage

In modern English, lower case letters are used for the majority of text. Upper case letters are typically used at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns. However, the rules for using lower and upper case letters can vary between different languages and writing systems.

Typography

In typography, lower case letters are often designed to be visually distinct from their upper case counterparts. This can include differences in height, width, and overall shape. The design of lower case letters can greatly affect the readability and aesthetic appeal of a piece of text.

See also

• Letter case
• Capital letter
• Typography
• Alphabet
• Printing press