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Initial facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

An initial or drop cap is a special letter at the start of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph. It's much bigger than the other letters around it. This word comes from the Latin word initialis, which means standing at the beginning.

You often see these large letters in old books or handwritten documents called manuscripts. They can be several lines tall! Sometimes, initials are also used to make long names or titles shorter.

For example, you might see:

  • JFK for John F. Kennedy
  • FDR for Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • AOC for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
  • TDK for The Dark Knight
  • NYC for New York City
  • USA for United States of America
  • KUWTK for Keeping Up with the Kardashians
  • EU for European Union

What is an Initial Letter?

An initial letter is a decorative way to start a new section of text. Imagine opening a fairy tale book and seeing the first letter of the story huge and fancy! That's an initial. They make the page look beautiful and help you know where a new part begins.

History of Initials

Initials have been used for a very long time. In the past, before printing presses, books were copied by hand. Monks and artists would spend hours carefully drawing and coloring these large letters. They often added tiny pictures or designs inside the letters. These are called historiated initials or illuminated initials.

Why Use Initials?

Besides looking nice, initials served a purpose:

  • Decoration: They made books more artistic and special.
  • Navigation: In old texts without clear headings, a big initial helped readers find the start of a new topic or chapter.
  • Emphasis: They drew attention to important parts of the text.

Initials in Modern Times

While you might not see them as often as in ancient manuscripts, initials are still used today. You can find them in:

  • Fancy invitations
  • Magazine layouts
  • Some book designs
  • Online articles to give a classic feel

They add a touch of elegance and tradition to written works.

Related Ideas

  • Abbreviation: This is a shortened form of a word or phrase, like using "Dr." for "Doctor." Initials are a type of abbreviation when they stand for names or titles.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Letra capital para niños

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Initial Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.