Print
A university has banned capital letters because they could upset students. Leeds Trinity University is telling their journalism instructors not to use capital letters in their correspondence with students.
Capital letters are intimidating and “frighten the students into failure,” a memo distributed to journalism instructors states. Consequently, journalism instructors cannot capitalize words or use proper grammar in emails and notes to students.
The memo advises against the use of capital letters and “negative” language, Yahoo News UK claims. In addition, the memo orders instructors not to say anything bad about students.
Capital Letters Banned Along With Negative Language
“Despite our best attempts to explain assessment tasks, any lack of clarity can generate anxiety and even discourage students from attempting the assessment at all,” the memo allegedly states.
The memo asserts that writing words in capital letters causes assignments to appear challenging and further adds to student anxieties, The Daily Express alleges. Notably, Leeds Trinity University administrators think capital letters make assignments look too difficult.
Additionally, the administrators list negative words for instructors not to use. For example, the list of words includes “do and don’t.”
Specifically, the memo declares that instructors must be “explicit about any inexplicitness” when writing about assignments. Nevertheless, The Express does not say what that is supposed to mean.
University Banning Capital Letters Is “Guidance For Full Potential”
On the other hand, a university spokesperson describes the memo as guidance that informs instructors how to help students achieve their full potential.
Conversely, one instructor complained that not using capital letters will make it harder for students to understand faculty communications.
“The memo cited in the press is guidance from a course leader to academic staff, sharing best practice from the latest teaching research to inform their teaching,” Professor Margaret A. House tells The Daily Mirror. House is the Vice Chancellor at Leeds Trinity University.
Moreover, House says banning capital letters is “about good communication and consistent style.” Notwithstanding, House says she wants to ban only the use of capital letters in communications.
“It is best practice not to write in all capital letters regardless of the sector,” House states.
Capitalizing all the letters in some words is apparently a means of emphasizing key points at British universities. Leeds Trinity University is in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Significantly, Leeds Trinity University’s website claims that the school ranks 12th in the UK for teaching quality.
At the present time, no American universities are trying to ban capital letters. However, political correctness clearly exists on both sides of the Atlantic.
