But first, let’s get some doubts cleared up.
Are email addresses case sensitive?
A simple answer here – emails are not case-sensitive. It means that it does not change anything, even when you put capital letters into your email address (or the person you’re sending to). Email address syntax is not case-sensitive.
If you accidentally capitalize a letter that should be lowercase (or vice versa) in an email address, there’s no need to worry. It will reach the intended mailbox.
For example, “[email protected]” and “[email protected]” are the same and will not be considered two completely different email addresses.
So, thankfully, there is no chance of miscommunication here.
What does case sensitive even mean?
Case sensitivity refers to whether or not the capitalization of letters in an email address matters. To put it simply, uppercase and lowercase letters are treated differently and can affect the delivery of your electronic messages.
However, lowercase and uppercase letters do not affect mail address validity when speaking of email addresses.
How do different email services handle case sensitivity?
As mentioned earlier, email addresses are case-insensitive. However, the digital world is very dynamic, so it’s always better to double-check everything.
When in doubt, here are the most popular email and internet service providers and their case-sensitive policies.
- Gmail – case-insensitive to your username address
- Outlook – case-insensitive to your username address
- Yahoo – case-insensitive to your username address
- Proton Mail – case-insensitive to your username address
The different parts of an email address
Some say that email addresses are like the equivalent of an ID. And there is something to it since we use our email addresses to sign up for different services or platforms.
Have you ever thought about the parts of the email address and what they mean?
Let’s break John’s email address down into pieces and analyze them.
Username
You can put it here if you like. It’s your place to create your unique address. The local part may:
- be 64 characters long
- include uppercase and lowercase letters (but they do not matter)
- consist of Latin characters from A to Z
- have special characters
It might be hard to find a satisfactory one because people tend to have more than one email address. So, you can imagine that it’s hard to figure out something different.
But before coming up with some crazy usernames, take a moment to think about who will be receiving your messages. When discussing business purposes of email addresses, maybe you should stick to a more usual username. Do you like the tip? Scroll for more!
For example, it could be:
- “john123”
- “Jonny_John”
- “john.smith”
It’s what comes before the “at” symbol (@). The username may add a personal touch to the email address.
Domain name/email service providers
Next, we have the domain name. It usually represents the website or service provider associated with her email address. It can be something like:
- “gmail.com”
- “yahoo.com”
- “brainybees.com”
The domain name tells the internet where John’s email inbox is. It could be an email service provider (ISP) and a company name that John works for.
Top-level domain (TLD)
It is like the extension at the end of John’s email address. A top-level domain identifies the type of organization or country associated with the email domain.
Here are some examples:
- “.com” for commercial entities
- “.edu” for educational institutions
- “.gov” for government organizations
just to name a few.
Imagine John’s email address is “[email protected].” Here’s how it breaks down: “johnny_smith” is his username, “gmail” is a domain name, and “.com” is a top-level domain.
📰 Check out the correct email address format.
Et voila! You’ve got the full email address explained.
BUT! Another question might pop up…
Can you use special characters in email addresses?
Yes! But not all. Special characters like:
- periods/dots (.)
- underscores (_)
- dash (-)
- or plus signs (+)
are commonly accepted. However, be careful with the plus sign and dots/periods. You need to check your email providers’ standards.
For example, when creating Gmail addresses, your username is unique, and dots do not matter. If your email address is [email protected] and someone sends an email to [email protected] or even [email protected] you’ll still get the email. For the system, it’s the same recipient. So, the email deliverability is not affected by the dots.
Also, when talking about Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud, there’s one trick to change your email address, but you still get compelling emails in your inbox.
Let’s assume your email address is [email protected], and when you put a plus between your username and the at (@) symbol and also add some characters, like annesmith+newsletter@gmail.com, email servers recognize them as identical.
💡 Also, remember that it’s always better to check service providers whether international symbols and characters are allowed.
Want some tips on how to make email deliverability metrics better?
➡️ Sign up to Bouncer and try it out in practice! It’s a great email verification tool as well.
The best practices for creating an email address
#1 Keep it simple and clear
It might be annoying when you keep forgetting your email address. Especially when signing up for a free trial. Or you want to enter the address in Uber Eats or Doordash when you’re hungry. Then, you might want to type it with lightning speed.
Keep it concise and simple so you can remember it quickly and not confuse yourself and others. Can you imagine checking your it up every time you need to enter it?
➡️ Example: [email protected]
🟥 Better not to use: [email protected]
#2 You can add punctuation
If you want to make your email address more original, add some punctuation marks. It could be underscores, numbers, or dashes. Adding some is helpful when the username is already taken, and you don’t want to give up your email address idea.
➡️ Examples:
🟥 Better not to use: [email protected]
And again, don’t use uppercase letters because they add no value. Check if your email server of yours accepts punctuation marks.
#3 Check for typos
No matter whether you write an introductory email, newsletter, or come up with your email address, always check for typos. But when we talk about your address, you need to be extra cautious.
Double-check it so you are sure that it’s:
➡️ Example: john.smith
🟥 Better not to use: john.smoth
#4 Consider it in the long term
Think about using an address that remains relevant and professional for years. Avoid trendy or temporary choices that may become outdated over time. Create one that will stand the test of time, whether for personal or professional use.
The best would be something easy to remember and type. It’s better not to use long strings of numbers, random combinations, and confusing jargon.
➡️ Examples: [email protected]
🟥 Better not to use: [email protected]
Are email addresses case sensitive? Now you know all about it
There are no doubts here. Emails are not case-sensitive. If your email address is [email protected] and someone enters it as [email protected], you’ll get the email. Whether you use lowercase or uppercase letters, a server doesn’t matter.
Email addresses case sensitivity: FAQ
Can I capitalize my Gmail addresses?
Yes, you can, but it does not change anything. The system will not catch any changes even when you capitalize the first letter of your name, surname, or any other letter. It’s even better to avoid uppercase letters because they make reading harder, especially in email communication.
Are Gmail addresses case-sensitive?
Gmail is case-insensitive. Whether you use uppercase or lowercase letters in your email address, it won’t make a difference. The email client will treat it as the same email address, regardless of capitalization, ensuring the message arrives in the same inbox.
Do capital letters matter in email?
No, capital letters do not matter in email addresses, and they do not affect the receipt of messages. The domain name system (DNS) is case-insensitive, so the email client recognizes uppercase and lowercase letters as the same email address.
Why are email addresses not case-sensitive?
Email addresses are not case-sensitive because the average email system, including the domain name system, treats uppercase and lowercase letters as the same.
Email servers and software recognize variations like “[email protected]” and “[email protected]” as the same email address. This helps keep email communication up to date and prevents confusion.
Can I use international and Latin symbols in my email address?
You can use Latin symbols, but international symbols might not be supported by email providers. Email addresses with more than one period or special characters may not always be recognized.
It’s best to check if the email client supports these characters and ensure the address works with various systems.
Does the email address affect email marketing?
The email address is a significant component of email marketing. It determines the deliverability of your messages and influences recipient engagement. A carefully chosen email address, one free from unnecessary symbols and more than one period, can enhance brand trustworthiness.
A poorly created one might end up in the spam folder or lead to low open rates. Choosing the same email address across platforms ensures consistency in email communication.