How you text is giving away your age — Gen Z scraps ‘normal texting’ for this alternative (2024)

Correct grammar is so last generation.

If you’re still using proper punctuation and capital letters while texting, your age might be showing, as typing in all lowercase has become a Gen Z hallmark.

The younger generation believes the letters “look better” than “ugly” capital letters, and saves full sentences and good grammar for the classroom.

“Full sentences is a school thing and we should leave the school stuff at school,” explained one Gen Alpha youngster in a viral TikTok video.

Her friend chimed in: “Normal texting seems too professional. I only text normal if I’m upset or mad.”

But a telltale sign of aging — other than the first hints of crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles —is toggling auto-capitalization “on” in their phone settings.

“Turned 26,” wrote X user Jonah Graber, along with a photo of his auto-capitalization turned on again.

“Maturing is realizing it might be time to stop typing in all lowercase. It’s the end of an era,” wrote TikToker Hannah Million in a recent viral video.

Noël Wolf, a language, culture and TikTok expert from the language learning program Babbel theorized that Gen Z might be more prone to using lowercase letters because it feels “more casual and relaxed,” appropriate for texting or posting online.

“Typing in lowercase is often faster and easier than including grammatically expected uppercase letters, aligning with the fast-paced nature of online communication,” she told Metro.

“Lowercase text can also appear more visually appealing, softer, and less imposing compared to uppercase text.”

Capital letters, on the other hand, are perceived as “shouting or expressing strong emotions” in the digital age, almost like “raising one’s voice” in real life.

“Overall, the preference for lowercase typing among the younger generation is a combination of cultural shifts, ease of use, and a desire to create a more relaxed and individualistic online presence,” she said.

But communicating in strictly lowercase letters isn’t the only Gen Z habit that has seeped into workplace Slack messages beyond our blue text bubbles and Instagram captions.

The youngest generation has also introduced new slang terms in the office — such as “slay,” “for real,” “flex” and “period” — while correcting the lingo their elders misuse.