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Meaning & use

block letters

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈblɒk ˌletəz/
US/ˈblɑːk ˌlet̬ərz/

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    A style of writing in which each letter is written separately, in its simple capital form, not joined to the next letter.

    Grammar: Always used in the plural: write in block letters. The singular 'block letter' exists but is rare; for one letter, say 'a block letter'.

    Patterns

    • in block letters
    • write something in block letters
    • print something in block letters

    Please write your name and address in block letters so we can read them easily.

    The form says 'use block letters', so don't write in cursive.

    He filled in the whole application in block letters with a black pen.

  2. nounplural

    Large, thick capital letters used in signs, headlines, or designs to make words stand out.

    Grammar: Still plural; often used after 'in' or with 'big', 'bold', 'huge'.

    Patterns

    • in big block letters
    • bold block letters
    • block letters on something

    The shop's name was painted in huge block letters above the door.

    She wrote 'SALE' in red block letters across the poster.

    The team's logo appears in bold block letters on their shirts.

Common combinations

in block letters
Complete the form in block letters.
write in block letters
Write your answers in block letters, not cursive.
print in block letters
Please print your email address in block letters.
big block letters
The title was written in big block letters.

Synonyms and how they differ

capitals
Refers to capital letters in general; block letters are capitals written separately and often in a plain, thick style.
uppercase
A technical term for capital letters; it doesn't suggest the simple, unjoined style that 'block letters' does.
print
As a verb, 'print' means to write without joining letters; 'block letters' is the noun for the letters themselves.

Opposites

cursivejoined-up writing

Word family

block letter noun
A single letter in this style; rare but used when talking about one character.
block capitals noun
A very similar phrase, common in British English for the same idea.

Commonly confused: block letters or capital letters? block letters or bold?

block letters vs capital letters

Capital letters are simply uppercase letters; block letters are capitals written in a separate, plain style. You can write capitals in cursive, but block letters are not joined.

block letters vs bold

Bold is about the thickness of printed text; block letters are about the style of handwriting or lettering.

Practice

The instructions say: 'Please write your name in ______ so we can read it clearly.'

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “block letters”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

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