StudlyCaps

StudlyCaps, or alternating caps, is a typographic style in which the capitalization of letters within a word or phrase is deliberately irregular. Patterns can include StUdLyCaPs or other uneven mixes of upper- and lower-case letters. The approach is a stylistic device rather than a formal writing system, used to attract attention, emphasize a word, or convey humor, sarcasm, or playfulness in digital text.

Originating in early internet culture, the term and practice emerged during the 1990s on platforms such as Usenet, bulletin boards, and IRC, where users experimented with text aesthetics. Over time, StudlyCaps has appeared in memes, fan communities, and social media captions, often signaling a casual or irreverent tone. It is commonly used in usernames and post text to inject personality or a sense of spontaneity.

Usage and reception: StudlyCaps is typically inappropriate for formal writing due to readability concerns and potential misinterpretation. It can also be used to circumvent simple text filters or moderation in some online environments, though its effectiveness for such purposes is limited. The practice is related to other typographic variations, such as leetspeak and other forms of stylized capitalization, and forms part of the broader spectrum of internet typography and meme culture.