Google Docs is a popular word processing software that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on documents online. While it has extensive formatting options, it lacks a dedicated small caps feature.
Small caps are a typographic style where the font uses uppercase letters, but they are the same size as lowercase ones. They are commonly used for acronyms, abbreviations, or to emphasize certain words.
Although Google Docs doesn’t have small caps built-in, you can easily emulate this effect with some simple formatting adjustments. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make text small caps in Google Docs.
Use the Uppercase Formatting
The easiest way to make text small caps in Google Docs is by using the uppercase formatting:
- Select the text you want to be small caps. You can select a word, sentence, or multiple paragraphs.
- Click on Format in the top menu bar and select Text.
- In the dropdown menu, click on UPPERCASE.
This will convert all the selected text into capital letters.
How to uppercase text in Google Docs
Reduce the Font Size
After uppercasing the text, you need to reduce its size to match lowercase letters. Here is how to do it:
- With the text still selected, click on the font size dropdown in the top bar.
- Reduce the font size by 2-4 points. For example, if your paragraph text is size 12 pt, make the small caps 10 pt.
The uppercase letters will now appear smaller, creating the small caps effect. Make sure to preview and tweak the size until it blends with the lowercase text.
Decrease font size for small caps in Google Docs
And that’s it! The text will now render as small caps, allowing you to emphasize words without affecting readability.
Create a Text Style for Small Caps
To save time when formatting multiple small caps instances, you can create a named text style in Google Docs.
Follow these steps:
- Format a text selection as small caps using the method above.
- Click on Format > Text styles in the menu.
- Click on Save selection as new style.
- Give it a name like “Small caps” and click Save.
Now when you want to apply small caps formatting, select the text and simply choose that text style. This will instantly change it without having to manually adjust the uppercase and size each time.
Use the Capitals Add-on
There is also a handy third-party add-on called Capitals that can convert text to small caps with one click.
To use it:
- Click on Add-ons > Get add-ons and search for “Capitals”.
- Install the “Capitals” add-on.
- Restart Google Docs to activate it.
- Select the text you want to be small caps.
- Click Add-ons > Capitals > Add small caps.
The Capitals add-on offers a faster way to apply small caps formatting compared to adjusting it manually.
Insert Small Caps Characters
Some fonts already include dedicated small caps characters that you can insert into Google Docs:
- Enable the keyboard for special characters by clicking Insert > Special characters.
- Browse for small caps letters like “a” or “b”.
- Insert the special small caps characters into your document by double-clicking them.
The main downside to this method is that it only works for fonts that have these built-in small caps alphabets. Most standard fonts do not include them.
Use LaTeX Formatting
Google Docs has LaTeX math formatting support. You can enable this to render small caps text using LaTeX tags:
- Surround the text with double dollar signs like this:
$$Text$$ - Insert the LaTeX small caps command
\textsc{}inside:$$\textsc{Text}$$
When you render the LaTeX, it will display that text selection as small caps. However, this method only works for small phrases and not longer paragraphs.
Summary
And there you have it – several methods to emulate small caps text formatting in Google Docs:
- Uppercase the text and reduce its font size
- Create a reusable text style
- Use the Capitals add-on
- Insert special small caps characters
- Format it in LaTeX
While Google Docs lacks native support for this feature, you can still implement it with a bit of work. The easiest approach is to combine uppercase formatting with reduced text size.
For optimal readability, use small caps sparingly to emphasize the occasional word or acronym. Avoid formatting entire paragraphs or sections this way.
With these formatting tricks, you’ll be able to produce small caps text in Google Docs to match the typographic style of your documents.
