this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2025
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me_irl
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nerd mode engaged.
https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/54423/why-dont-upper-case-numbers-exist#54425
they actually are usually upper case, it's the lower case that are less widely used.
As far as I know, that is the 'number case'. Where the difference between upper and lower case is defined based on alignment of the numbers with baseline of typography.
I think the post is taking about 'letter case'. Which we commonly use to yell at people through text. I don't think there is an equivalent like that in case of numbers. Mainly because numbers came from languages which are unicase by default. Like the Indian languages and Arabic.
Wikipedia says that they are sometimes referred to as lowercase.
Most font packages call it old style figures.
In typography class we were taught to call the lining and non-lining figures.
It is lowercase only. But lowercase in number case. The upper and lower case is distinguished based on alignment in this, where in text case it is based on shape and/or size.
Edit: my use of the words number case and letter case does not look like the standard words. But the concept still exist. Check this: https://totallytype.com/figures.php
6 and 8 being all “no one tells me what to do!” and staying the same.
That can be used to play pranks on people...
IDK, I don't think old style and lining figures are analogous to lower- and uppercase letters. They're not really different glyphs, at least not like lower- and uppercase letters are, and I would see them more as different ways of typesetting the same glyph.
Edit: Wikipedia does not agree with me.
The typical use for the "lower case" numbers is in body copy, because that style of number fits in better with the old style and transitional fonts that are typically used there. So, you are most likely to see them when you are reading a book or an article, but not in the headlines or chapter titles.
Source: just sat through a lecture on this last week in Intro Typography.
That's traditional but today I think most people remember them from signage and logos, shops and boutique firms love having 4s in their names because it looks so nice old style next to another number. Like Table 42 or maybe 10th Street Bar where the 0 is old style, with the dot or bar under it. A lot of websites also use it in headers because it looks more sophisticated and old-money. I am not sure how many people read books and body copy anymore, but I like the idea that it still happens!
Neat-lowercase0