Hey all, So, I've got three points in my novel where I use caps; the first is for emphasis (which I realise is definitely a nay) and the other two I have tried to use in a stylistic way for banners, for example like something you might see outside a shop: CLEARANCE SALE, EVERYTHING MUST GO. Question is, can this work very sparingly, or is it a cardinal sin to use caps altogether and should ideally be replaced with italics in lower case? Thanks in advance!
I don't see an issue with it in this particular example. You're relating what's on the sign. There are plenty of places where using caps is fine, such as suggesting a machine output like: The screen flashed into life. "HELLO WORLD" I would just try to avoid going overboard. Batman punched the Joker. POW! WHAM! KERPOK! WHUPASS! This might be overdoing it.
Not a fan of it as emphasis. Being used for declaring what's on a sign, as you used in your example, seems fine. I just think it's kind of annoying when trying to place emphasis on something. Personal opinion more or less.
I have a terrible habit of using caps when I'm emphasising something in ordinary communications, like emails and forum posts. I usually go through afterwards and remove them, but sometimes not. I usually live to regret the ones I didn't pull. They just look SILLY and are first cousin to using exclamation marks! ALL the time!!!! However, I don't use them in my novel. I did over-use italics for emphasis during my first few drafts, but I've now removed most of them as well. It's really easy to fall into this habit.
I'm definitely in the same boat when it comes to over-use of italics. I've got one more edit to go through before I send it off to the first wave of beta readers, so the scalpel is at the ready! Thanks everyone for chipping in.