Hand set lead-cast printing type used to be divided into two cases, one for capital letters and one for small letters, arranged one above the other, hence upper and lower case. It was supplanted by the California job case which combined the two, used to this day in its now very limited, mostly hobby, service.
In the West text was written in majuscule (upper case) without punctuation, until the time of Charlemagne, at which point many reforms were instituted. The use of minuscule (lower case) was popularized.
Yes. But in the Middle Ages, in cursive penmanship, they weren’t called “upper case” and “lower case.” “Capitals,” or as mentioned above, “majuscule” and “miniscule.” Those terms are from hand typesetting, even though the letter styles themselves are much older.
Cynthia may be a hellraiser, but sometimes these situations indicate a degree of teaching incompetence. Teacher can always say “I’ll answer your question at the end of the class.”
jgreathead over 10 years ago
Hand set lead-cast printing type used to be divided into two cases, one for capital letters and one for small letters, arranged one above the other, hence upper and lower case. It was supplanted by the California job case which combined the two, used to this day in its now very limited, mostly hobby, service.
ComicGent over 10 years ago
I also think “upper and lower case” long pre-dates lino type machines, and goes back to the very early days of printing with moveable type.
luvcmx over 10 years ago
Is Cynthia channelling Caulfield from Frazz? Can you imagine the offspring of the two of them?
lisbethtraumwasser over 10 years ago
In the West text was written in majuscule (upper case) without punctuation, until the time of Charlemagne, at which point many reforms were instituted. The use of minuscule (lower case) was popularized.
sbchamp over 10 years ago
STILL huntin’ that sarcasm font!
saxie5 over 10 years ago
Teacher: Well, Cynthia, since you are so interested, why don’t you write a report on it and have it on my desk in the morning. Thanks.
ARodney over 10 years ago
Yes. But in the Middle Ages, in cursive penmanship, they weren’t called “upper case” and “lower case.” “Capitals,” or as mentioned above, “majuscule” and “miniscule.” Those terms are from hand typesetting, even though the letter styles themselves are much older.
EchoGirl21 over 8 years ago
First B & C comic i ever read.
wordsmeet almost 3 years ago
Cynthia may be a hellraiser, but sometimes these situations indicate a degree of teaching incompetence. Teacher can always say “I’ll answer your question at the end of the class.”