Definition

Noun A small capital is a typographical character that has the shape and design of an uppercase (capital) letter but is scaled to approximately the same height as the lowercase letters in a font.

Usage

Small capitals are a distinct typographic feature used for specific stylistic or functional purposes within a body of text. They are not simply regular capital letters that have been reduced in size, as that would disrupt the weight and proportion of the typeface. True small capitals are designed to match the stroke weight and color of the surrounding lowercase letters.

Examples

• In many academic citations, the names of journals are set in small capitals.
• The opening paragraph of the chapter used small capitals for the first few words, creating an elegant drop cap effect.
• To avoid visual shouting, the designer used small capitals for acronyms like NASA within the paragraph text.

Advanced Usage

• Typographic Hierarchy: Small capitals are often employed for running heads, section subheads, or to introduce a new section in continuous text, providing emphasis without the strong interruption of full capitals.
• Linguistic and Stylistic Conventions: In some style guides, small capitals are prescribed for certain elements, such as:
  • Era designations (e.g., ad or bc).
  • The names of speakers in published dramatic dialogue or transcripts.
  • Abbreviations for certain titles or references in bibliographies.

Variants and Related Words

• Small Caps (noun, informal): A common abbreviated term for "small capitals."
• Uppercase (noun/adjective): The standard capital letter form (e.g., A, B, C), which is taller than small capitals.
• Lowercase (noun/adjective): The smaller letter form (e.g., a, b, c), which shares the x-height with true small capitals.
• Petite Caps: An even smaller variant of capital letters, typically matching the height of the font's lowercase letters without ascenders (like 'x' or 'o').

Synonyms

• Small Caps
• Mini Capitals (less common)

Notes

• Faux Small Capitals: Many word processors can create "small capitals" by simply scaling down regular capital letters. This practice is typographically inferior, as it results in letters that appear too light and spindly compared to the surrounding text. True small capitals are a dedicated part of a professional typeface.
• Accessibility: Screen readers may not always announce the use of small capitals, so they should not be used to convey essential meaning that isn't otherwise stated in the text.

Noun

1. a character having the form of an upper-case letter but the same height as lower-case letters