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# Not every word needs a capital letter
- URL: https://www.nevillehobson.io/not-every-word-needs-a-capital-letter/
- Published: 2026-01-02T07:22:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-02T07:22:23.000Z
- Description: Why do we write the way we do? After a LinkedIn comment challenged my use of Title Case, I realised it was simply habit. So I’ve decided to change to using sentence case for titles and headings – a small but intentional choice that matters.
- Author: Neville Hobson
- Tags: Blogging, Communication

A friend commented recently on a LinkedIn post, asking why I use what looks like an American style of titling – where almost every word starts with a capital letter – rather than the British convention of sentence case.

My reply was honest enough: habit. But on reflection, that didn’t feel like a good enough reason.

[Title Case](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title%5Fcase?ref=nevillehobson.io) has crept into my writing over the years, influenced by platforms, publishing tools, and the quiet pressure to follow what seems to be the dominant online style. It’s easy to adopt without ever consciously choosing it.

So I’ve decided to undo that habit.

From now on, I’ll write titles and subheadings in posts in [sentence case](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter%5Fcase?ref=nevillehobson.io#Sentence%5Fcase) – the standard British approach, where only the first word (and proper nouns) are capitalised. Sentence case aligns better with UK English norms; it feels calmer, more natural, and closer to how we actually read and write.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/59/f0/59f0f3d2-7a4d-469d-80ba-430572591933/content/images/2026/01/NYTimes-front-20260101--Medium-.png)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/59/f0/59f0f3d2-7a4d-469d-80ba-430572591933/content/images/2026/01/TheTimes-front-20260101--Medium--1.png)

**Two newspapers, two traditions – Title Case and sentence case, shaped by culture, convention, and habit.*

This is a small change, but a deliberate one. It’s a reminder that clarity, tone, and intent matter more than convention – and that habits are worth questioning, especially when they no longer serve a purpose.

Sometimes, progress is simply choosing differently next time.