Email Etiquette

Due to the volume of e-mails and the speed with which it can reach recipients, the need to establish an e-mail etiquette became apparent from the very start of Internet technology. Plus, each person is unique so the way a sender perceives his words might be differently understood by the receiver. Hence, a general set of rules have been accepted for promoting e-mail etiquette.

Carefully consider your audience

Here are a few rules that should not be taken for granted every time you send an email:

a. Try to fit all of your message in one screen. In short, avoid sending long e-mails if you can make it direct and brief.

b. Include a title or message header so that the mail recipient will have an idea what the message is all about.

c. Do not put in lengthy lines even if you are sending a long e-mail. Cut it with at least 70 characters so that it is easier to read. Remember, other people’s monitor may not be able to read what is otherwise readable for your terminal.

d. Use proper punctuation, capitalization and indents when creating e-mails.

e. Lastly, it is important that you show respect in your messages by including the proper
opening and closing addresses or remarks.