4 E-mailing Do’s and Don’t’s

E-mail Do’s and Don’t’s

E-mail is an integral part of most people’s lives these days. There are few people who don’t have it. It’s how friends and families communicate, not too mention many jobs. No matter who you are or what you do here are 4 do’s and don’ts that you should consider the next time you e-mail anyone:

1. Do: Be Concise
There is nothing worse than having to read an e-mail that is a jumble of this and that. The next time you reply to someone’s e-mail make sure you answer the questions that they may have posed to you. If you have a bit of news, share it. And lastly, ask a question of the other person. This is what keeps conversations going. An e-mail doesn’t have to be more than a few lines. It’s not like the olden days where letters were sent via snail mail and had to contain a lot of information about the last few months. E-mail is weekly and oftentimes daily. No need to jam everything into one e-mail.

2. Don’t: Expect Prompt Responses
E-mail is quick. You type out a message and hit send. Almost right away your e-mail will appear in your intended’s inbox. That all being said, it doesn’t mean that the recipient will get to it soon. Not everyone checks their e-mail daily. It’s not fair to expect them to either. So, don’t get ticked off if you don’t hear back for a while. Not everyone who has e-mail is completely attached to it.

3. Do: Mind Your Manners
Always be polite in your e-mails. Open and close with a greeting, especially if you’re not close with the person. With friends you might be more likely to be casual, but always be polite. If you ever write business e-mails, it’s especially important to be formal. E-mail doesn’t take the formality of communication. Don’t treat a boss, teacher, lawyer, doctor or co-worker as you would a friend.

4. Don’t: Send forwards and chain letters
There is absolutely nothing worse. They are simply as bad as spam. Don’t send them unless you find happen to find something you think a friend will absolutely enjoy. If you do this, clean up the e-mail: change the subject line from the annoying “FWD:fwd:fwd: You’ll love this” to something more personal to the person you’re sending it to such as “A joke you’ll enjoy.” In general, don’t send them. People don’t appreciate them. They don’t have the time to read them and people who send them often don’t hide the e-mail addresses of the recipients, which can in turn lead to more spam and forwards and other junk. Also remember, most of these jokes and other chain letters have been circulating for years. There’s nothing new out there.