The Basics of Electronic Mail

Appropriate "tone of voice" and content

For most users, email is a form of communication that lies somewhere between a telephone call and a written memo. When accompanied by an attachment, a short email can even function like a PostIt™ note. It's important, however, not to abuse the informal quality of email communications. Here are some examples of poor email netiquette to avoid:

• SHOUTING. Typing in all caps (capital letters) is considered shouting. Don't … it's rude. Typing an entire message in all caps also makes it very difficult to read.

• No punctuation or capital letters. like all caps the lack of any punctuation at all is also very difficult to read and worse it can make you look lazy or unschooled so don't do it, thank you.

• Including information that would embarrass you or others if the whole world saw it. Legends abound regarding sensitive emails that were accidentally broadcast to whole companies or sent to the wrong party. Remember that an email is a permanent written record. More important, an email can easily be forwarded to other parties, and you have absolutely no control over that possibility.

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