upper-case

upper-case — noun

IPA/ˌʌpə ˈkeɪs/
IPA/ˌʌpər ˈkeɪs/

1. the bigger and taller version of a letter of the alphabet, such as A or B, used

1.nounB1
Definition

the bigger and taller version of a letter of the alphabet, such as A or B, used at the start of a sentence or for someone's name — the opposite form from lower case (a, b, c)

Example

The title of the book was written entirely in upper case.

Xiu noticed that the street signs used upper case for all the place names.

collocation: 'use + upper case + for [something]'

Common collocations
  • in upper case
  • use upper case
  • written in upper case
  • set in upper case
Synonyms
  • capital letters

    more common in everyday speech; 'upper case' is the standard technical term

  • uppercase

    one-word spelling, equally common in modern use

  • caps

    informal abbreviation, often used in instructions ('all caps')

  • block capitals

    specifically refers to capital letters of the same height, often for forms

Antonyms

Usage Note

Used without an article in phrases like 'in upper case'. The uncountable noun form (e.g. 'Use upper case') is more common than the countable 'an upper-case letter'.

Common Mistakes

Please write your name in upper cases.
Please write your name in upper case.
'upper case' is uncountable and does not take a plural -s.
I used all big letters for the title.
I used all upper case for the title.
'big letters' is too informal for writing instruction.

upper-case — adjective

IPA/ˌʌp.əˈkeɪs/
IPA/ˌʌp.ɚˈkeɪs/

upper-case — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Upper case' is the standard term for the large form of letters (A, B, C) and is the direct counterpart to 'lower case'. 'Capital letters' means exactly the same thing but is more common in student writing and general conversation. 'Uppercase' (one word) is the preferred spelling in computing and technical contexts. 'Caps' is an informal shortening used in notes and instructions ('type in all caps'). 'Block capitals' refers specifically to capital letters of even height, often required on forms. 'All caps' describes text written entirely in capital letters. For example: 'Please write your name in block capitals on the application form' versus 'Switch the keyboard to uppercase before typing the product code.'

capital lettersuppercase ↗caps ↗block capitalsall caps

Common collocations

Phrases

  • in upper case
  • use upper case

Prepositions

Etymology

Englishprinting

The term 'upper case' comes from traditional printing (typesetting), where metal letters were stored in two wooden trays called cases. The capital letters were kept in the upper tray (the 'upper case'), and the small letters in the lower tray (the 'lower case'). Although the physical wooden cases have long disappeared, the terms have survived into the age of computers and digital writing.

First known use

1738

1738, in the meaning defined above Noun (1)