My Feature in Reader’s Digest: Why Gen Z is Ditching Capital Letters—And What It Means for Communication
Language is always evolving, and Gen Z is proving that once again—this time, by tossing out capital letters. If you’ve ever received a text from a Gen Zer and thought, “Are they mad at me?” you’re not alone. The rise of all-lowercase communication has been baffling to many Millennials and Gen Xers, who grew up following traditional grammar rules. But as I shared in Reader’s Digest, this isn’t just about laziness—it’s a generational shift in how communication is evolving in the digital age.
Why Is Gen Z Skipping Capital Letters?
There are two major factors behind this trend: the dominance of social media and changes in how writing is taught in schools.
For Gen Z, social media is their primary form of communication. Platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram favor quick, casual exchanges. Formality isn’t the goal—being authentic and relatable is. In that context, capitalization can feel unnecessary or even insincere. As I explained in Reader’s Digest, “There’s definitely a trend where Gen Z eschews traditional grammar in written communications. We see this particularly in how they have dropped using capital letters and punctuation.”
Gen Zers themselves agree. When asked by the journalist for the story why they skip capitalization, their responses in the article ranged from “It’s just easier” to “It feels more natural.” One 17-year-old in the article put it bluntly: “Capitals feel like you’re trying to be formal or fake. Like you’re overthinking what you’re saying. It doesn’t feel authentic.”
At the same time, schools have shifted their focus away from traditional grammar drills and toward digital literacy, meaning Gen Z has spent less time memorizing strict grammar rules and more time adapting to new ways of communicating online.
The Impact on the Workplace
The lowercase trend might seem harmless in texts and social media, but what happens when Gen Z brings this communication style into professional settings?
Some older colleagues and managers view lowercase emails and Slack messages as unprofessional or even disrespectful. It’s causing some friction between generations, with some Baby Boomers and Gen Xers assuming that a lack of capital letters signals a lack of effort. But, as I pointed out in the article, this isn’t about intelligence or work ethic—this is just another example of how language evolves. “These stereotypes aren’t true. This is just evidence of the norms changing, as they always do over time.”
However, it’s still important to recognize when formal communication matters. While casual, lowercase messages might work for internal chats, I always advise Gen Z professionals to use proper grammar when emailing clients or executives. It’s about knowing your audience and adapting accordingly.
The Future of Communication: Even Fewer Words?
While the lowercase trend is fascinating, an even bigger shift may be happening: the move away from written text entirely. More and more, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are favoring voice memos and short videos over traditional texting.
“One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is the move to voice memos and short videos (like Snapchat) instead of texting or emails,” I shared in the Reader’s Digest article. “That means no capitals, no punctuation—just straight-up talking.”
And don’t assume that means they love talking on the phone—many Gen Zers prefer voice memos because they allow time to think through a response without the pressure of a live conversation. This shift could have an even bigger impact on communication norms than the lowercase trend itself!
Final Thoughts: Adapt, Don’t Overreact
The lowercase trend isn’t about Gen Z being lazy—it’s about efficiency, authenticity, and the natural evolution of language. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s happening. The key is to understand why it’s happening and adapt accordingly.
Capitalization isn’t disappearing entirely (yet), but the way we communicate is changing rapidly. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that every generation has its own way of pushing language forward.
So, whether you text in all lowercase, ALL CAPS, or somewhere in between, the most important thing is clear communication—and, of course, knowing when to use proper grammar to avoid sending your boss an email that looks like a ransom note. If you want to read the entire article, please check it out here. If you want more great Gen Z research, please check out our annual State of Gen Z research study here.
Check out the full Reader’s Digest article here. To dive deeper into generational trends, explore my annual State of Gen Z research study here or download the first few chapters of my latest book, Zconomy, by clicking here.
Posted: March 26th, 2025
Categories: Generations | Inspiration | Keynote Speaking | Leadership | Trends | Workforce
Written by Jason Dorsey
Jason Dorsey is an acclaimed generations and behavioral researcher and speaker. He's received over 1,000 standing ovations for his unique keynote presentations. Jason has led over 120 research studies. Adweek calls him a "research guru." His mission is to deliver new insights and practical strategies that solve business challenges for leaders.
