diff --git a/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly b/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
index 58efd82..e123b49 100644
--- a/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
+++ b/basic_format_and_style_settings.ly
@@ -194,12 +194,14 @@ alt =
 
 updown =
 #(define-music-function (parser location word) (string?)
+(let ((first-char (string-take word 1))
+      (rest (substring word 1 (string-length word))))
 #{
   \lyricmode {
-    \tag #'up { \markup { #(string-capitalize word) } }
-    \tag #'down { \markup { #(string-downcase word) } }
+    \tag #'up { \markup { #(string-append (string-capitalize first-char) rest) } }
+    \tag #'down { \markup { #(string-append (string-downcase first-char) rest) } }
   }
-#})
+#}))
 
 dottedExtender = {
   \override LyricExtender.style = #'dotted-line