Email Etiquette is very important for any professional and personal purposes. Email has developed into a vital tool for communication in both personal and professional contexts in today’s fast-paced digital world. Email has completely changed the way we communicate, cooperate, and conduct business because of its convenience and effectiveness.
The set of rules and guidelines that control the appropriate and professional usage of email are referred to as email etiquette. It includes a number of elements, including formatting, tone, writing style, and general professionalism.
In this Article, we will see an Email Etiquette with examples. Let us get started.
Importance of Email Etiquette
When you use email for business communications, you present yourself as a dependable and trustworthy person.
You can show your attention to detail and professionalism by following email etiquette rules including using suitable syntax and punctuation, addressing recipients appropriately, and keeping a respectful tone.
Following social conventions is only one aspect of email etiquette; it also improves the efficiency of your communication. Your emails will be understood and responded to quickly if they are logically organized, have informative subject lines, and include succinct, pertinent text.
Tips on Email Etiquette
So far we have discussed the importance of Email Etiquette. Now, we will give you some tips.
First we will look at how it is spelled.
How is it spelled?
Answer: Gregg, Microsoft, and AP: e-mail, Wired: email, Email Experience Council: email is standard.
The most widely used programme on the Internet and a communication standard is email.Email usage rates and the total number of users are both increasing dramatically.
The key components of an appropriate email are a right tone and word choice.
Tone: Example One
To: Female employees
From: H. Honcho
Re: Dress code
Date: 1 July 2006
Next week, clients will be in town. Jeans and halter tops won’t convey the correct message. It’s time to stop dressing for the beach and start dressing for the office. Don’t wear your flip-flops outside!
Tone: Example Two
To: All staff
From: H. Honcho
Re: Reminder about what to wear to work
Date: 1 July 2006
Our dress code is business casual during the summer. According to our definition, “business casual” refers to attire that is both comfortable and stylish.
Men Women
khaki pants casual pants and skirts
leather shoes… leather or fabric shoes…
Tips
- Avoid being abrupt, as this can be taken the wrong way.
- If the matter is delicate, speak to someone in person or by phone.
- Try reading your mail aloud once before reading it to check for any ambiguities or tone problems.
- Humour is more dangerous. Avoid using smileys or other symbols that could be misunderstood.
Difference: Levels of formality
Email is typically seen as being more formal than phone calls but less formal than letters.
Example of an informal meeting request
From: Bob Anderson <anderson@rand-unix>
Date: 21 Dec 84 11:40:12 PST (Fri)
To: rant!anderson, rant!gillogly,
rant!norm
Subject: meeting …
we need to setup a meeting bet. jim you and i — can you arange?
i’m free next wed. thks.
Example of a formal meeting request
Subject: MEETING ON FY86 PLANNING, 2PM, 12/28/84, CONFERENCE ROOM 1
On December 28, 1984, at 2pm, the FY86 planning task committee will meet in Conference Room 1. The meeting’s agenda is as follows:
Topic Presenter Time
Strategic Business Plan John Fowles 30 min.
Budget Forecast for FY86 Sue Martin 15 “
New Product Announcements Peter Wilson 20 “
Action Items for 1st Qtr FY86 Jane Adamson 25 “
Spelling
One cannot take it lightly because 81% of the study sample expressed “negative feelings” towards the senders due to poor grammar, misspellings, and disjointed reasoning.
Mail that is poorly written conveys indifference and perhaps carelessness.
General email etiquette rules:
- ALL CAPS ARE VIEWED AS SHOUTING
- Thus, there is too much punctuation!!!!!!
- E-mail is difficult to read when capitalization and punctuation are not used.
- Your coworkers find text messaging abbreviations bewildering.
- Skip the emoticons
- Describe acronyms
- Before sending, check your grammar and spelling.
- Stay away from using SMS or slang.
- Make your subject line more compelling and direct.
Think of these before you hit send:
Needed (Does the recipient need this to do their job)
o Timely
o Relevant
o Complete
Appropriate
o Compliant (e-discovery)
o Professional
o Inoffensive
Targeted
o Limit use of Reply to all
o Limit use of CC/BC
o Use Distribution Lists Carefully
o Best Channel
The Noise
Approximately 180 billion emails are sent. An estimated 100 billion of these emails may be unsolicited.
Unwanted email
What is Phishing?
Appear to be from legitimate site, businesses
Request personal or financial information
Only work if you click or respond, best to just delete
What is Spam?
Ads and scams
Replying or unsubscribing validates your address for more spam
Do not reply, delete email
What is Virus?
Installed software without knowledge or consent
Computer use monitored and controlled
You must click or open program to infect
Take Another Look Before You Send a Message
What can be misread via email will be misunderstood. You should therefore take extra care when writing anything.
Check for spelling errors
Avoid word misuse that spell-check won’t catch
- too / to / two
- there / their
Do Not Default to “Reply All“
Use your email program’s Reply to All feature only when it will be necessary for the original sender and everyone included in the To: and Cc: fields to receive a copy of your response.
Do not use Reply to All when
- Your response is private and only the sender needs to see it.
- Your comments will be crucial for the sender and a small group of additional recipients to know. (Use Reply in this case and add the select other recipients manually. You can copy their addresses from the original email, of course)
- You were either a recipient of the original message’s Bcc: line or
The Bcc: only be used to copy internal recipients as proof when sending emails to the outside world, or to disseminate communications while keeping the recipients’ addresses private.
If you reply to all as a Bcc: recipient you reveal your being a recipient your message says “Thanks!” or “Me too!”
- I enjoy receiving thank-you notes. However, make thanking everyone in a group email the exception. Instead, please convey your gratitude in private communications.
Keep your Emails Short
- Put your points in bullet form.
- Start each section with a brief summary or the action you want them to take.
- Make sure no crucial information is buried in the body of your message or any bullet point.
- Create a fresh message for each significant action you want the recipient to take.
Don’t Forward Fake mail
Never share a tale like that without first looking into it.
Write a Good Email Subject
To compose the perfect email subject:Give the message’s bottom line
Consider sending separate emails if your communication contains multiple themes.
Instead of describing it, sum up the message, including your motivation for writing and what you hope the receiver will remember after reading it.
Be precise
Include information that will help the recipient understand what you’re saying clearly and promptly.
If your message calls for the reader to take action, make sure to include it, ideally in the first word.
Leave out unnecessary words
Email subject lines must be brief. Leave off the articles, adjectives, and adverbs.
Let People Know Their Mail Has Been Received
Even if a response is not required, send a brief message in response acknowledging receipt and potentially including an informal thank you.
Even if you intend to respond later, an email confirming receipt and informing the sender of your anticipated response time can be appreciated.
One Subject per Email
When you begin writing about a new topic, start a new message. Google combines talks.
Punctuation that matters
The use of a comma, colon, hyphen, or semicolon makes it simpler to understand the intended meaning of a statement.
Don’t make your email recipients’ lives more challenging or, potentially, less entertaining.
Usage of Acronyms in Email
Utilize acronyms sparingly and carefully.
WRITING IN ALL CAPS IS LIKE SHOUTING
When you write in full capital letters, it appears (and possibly sounds) as though you are shouting to the recipient makes reading a lot more challenging
Be Careful with Humor/Sarcasm in Emails
Humour and sarcasm should be avoided in emails because they are frequently difficult to understand.
Avoid “Me Too” Messages
When responding to an email from a distribution list, “Me too” replies are not particularly helpful.
Avoid Forwarding Email Messages
Before forwarding, get consent from the original sender and anybody else in the message string. Possible misunderstanding of the original message’s context
Email – Not A Forum For Complaining/Venting
Question: Is there a suggestion for a fix in this message?
Question: Does this message place blame on anyone or anything?
Oregonian Headline – My Email Message?
Your whole email correspondence is available to the public.
In conclusion, learning proper email etiquette is crucial in today’s business environment. You may make sure that your communication is always clear, succinct, and courteous by adhering to the rules and best practices mentioned in this email.
Hope this email Etiquette and its tips are more useful to you.
Also read POWERFUL EMPLOYEE ATTRITION REPORT TEMPLATE