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What word is used to signify "change/transform letters from uppercase to lowercase?" Uncapitalize? Decapitalize? The grammar check on my laptop suggests these words are not commonly used, or they do not exist.

Thanks

haxtar
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    A number of computer languages use 'downcase' as the name of a function or method for doing this (eg https://ruby-doc.org/core-2.1.0/String.html#method-i-downcase). But are you looking for a more general term that non-programmers would understand? – John Feltz Jul 30 '18 at 20:14
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    'Downcase' seems sufficient, but if there is a more generally-used term, I'd like to know of that, too! Thanks – haxtar Jul 30 '18 at 20:19

2 Answers2

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You can use lowercase as a verb:

transitive verb : to print or set in lowercase letters

I think that would encompass changing existing text to lower case. Googling for "lowercase the text" brings up "About 26,900 results" some of which, at least, seem to have that meaning.

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    Google search gives wildly inaccurate numbers as estimates. The actual number of hits is closer to 43. – Laurel Jul 30 '18 at 20:40
  • @Laurel At least with that number I can check that most of them do, indeed, correspond to this use! –  Jul 31 '18 at 09:55
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I've always used (and heard used) upshift and downshift to describe the act of changing case, but I don't see it in any dictionaries. Perhaps it is an old computer dude thing (been in the business nearly 40 years now). Here are some examples, however:

From the HP3000 Edit Manual:

Downshift Character

Purpose
Converts one or more alphabetic characters to lowercase.

As an old HP3k guy, this may very well be where I first learned it. Also, note that there are related commands to downshift a word and an entire line, as well as the upshift equivalents.

From the Multi-Edit forums:

Your macro would examine the word prior to the space (allowing for leading/trailing punctuation) and, if it is a keyword, would upshift or downshift it.

From the book Nook for Dummies:

To lock the upper case keyboard so that it doesn't downshift to lowercase...

And lastly, editor Taylor Sperry at the publisher Melville House discusses the New York Times, Associated Press, and Wall Street Journal all switching to a lowercase I in the word internet:

But this downshift from uppercase-I to lowercase-i “internet” suggests something more than an aesthetic accommodation.

Hope this helps.

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Roger Sinasohn
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