At CGK, we track the subtle shifts that reveal larger generational trends—and one of the more surprising ones recently gained mainstream attention: Gen Z is ditching capital letters.
CGK President Jason Dorsey was featured in a recent Reader’s Digest article exploring why so many Gen Zers are choosing to text, post, and message in all lowercase—and what that choice reveals about how communication norms are changing.
While this trend may seem trivial or even careless to some older generations, what we’re seeing is actually a generationally driven evolution in tone, authenticity, and digital self-expression.
A Shift Fueled by Digital Behavior and Evolving Education
The lowercase trend isn’t random—it reflects the two major forces shaping Gen Z’s communication style:
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The rise of social media as their primary form of communication
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A shift in how writing is taught in schools
Gen Z came of age communicating on platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, where messages are short, casual, and designed to feel personal and in the moment. In that context, formal punctuation and capital letters can come across as overly serious—or even insincere.
As Jason shared 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.”
In interviews for the article, Gen Zers described lowercase writing as feeling “more natural” or “less formal”—even calling capital letters “fake.” At the same time, schools have moved toward teaching digital literacy over traditional grammar drills, meaning Gen Z has spent more time learning how to communicate effectively online than memorizing sentence diagramming.
Why This Matters in the Workplace
The lowercase trend may feel harmless—or even clever—when used in text messages and social media. But it can create challenges when Gen Z brings this informal tone into professional communication.
At CGK, we consistently hear from employers and cross-generational teams about the friction lowercase communication can cause, especially in emails and formal messages. Some leaders from older generations interpret lowercase messages as careless or unprofessional. In reality, this is simply a generational difference in tone, not intention.
As Jason noted in the article, “These stereotypes aren’t true. This is just evidence of the norms changing, as they always do over time.”
The key for emerging Gen Z professionals is to know their audience. At CGK, we advise Gen Z to adapt their communication style based on context: keep it casual in group chats, but switch to traditional grammar and punctuation when messaging clients or executives. This isn’t about conforming—it’s about clarity and professionalism when it matters most.
Beyond Lowercase: A Bigger Shift in Communication
While the all-lowercase trend is eye-catching, it’s just one part of a larger evolution in how Gen Z and Gen Alpha prefer to communicate. In fact, we’re seeing a growing shift away from written communication altogether.
More young people are turning to voice memos and short videos over texting or emailing—favoring tools like Snapchat, Instagram stories, and iPhone audio messages.
As Jason shared in Reader’s Digest, “One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is the move to voice memos and short videos instead of texting or emails. That means no capitals, no punctuation—just straight-up talking.”
This move reflects what we call at CGK “low-friction communication”—fast, casual, and emotionally expressive. Unlike live phone calls, voice memos allow the sender to think before responding, while still conveying tone and emotion. And for Gen Z, that balance of thoughtfulness and authenticity is key.
The Takeaway: It’s Not About Grammar—It’s About Generational Context
Gen Z’s lowercase messages aren’t about laziness or a disregard for rules—they’re part of a broader shift toward efficient, emotionally resonant, and digitally native communication.
At The Center for Generational Kinetics, we help leaders, educators, and organizations recognize and adapt to these shifts. Understanding the why behind Gen Z’s communication preferences can reduce misinterpretations, improve cross-generational teamwork, and foster greater empathy between colleagues and customers.
Language evolves—and so does every generation’s relationship with it. Lowercase may not become the default forever, but it’s a clear signal that Gen Z is redefining the tone of modern communication.
Check out the full Reader’s Digest article here. To dive deeper into generational trends, explore our annual State of Gen Z research study here or download the first few chapters of our latest book, Zconomy, by clicking here.
