Email Etiquette

Sophomore Career Unit

Mountain Pointe High School

Why Do You Need Email

Etiquette?
A company needs to implement etiquette
rules for three reasons:

Why Do You Need Email

Etiquette?
A company needs to implement etiquette
rules for three reasons:
Professionalism
Efficiency
Protection from Liability

Why Do You Need Email

Etiquette?
Professionalism
Using proper email language will convey a
professional image your company.

Why Do You Need Email

Etiquette?
Efficiency
Emails that get to the point are much more
effective than poorly worded emails.

Why Do You Need Email

Etiquette?
Protection from liability
Employee awareness of email risks will
protect your company from costly law suits.
If it comes from the company email, it comes
from the company.

What are the Rules?

There are many etiquette guides and
many different etiquette rules. Some rules
will differ according to the nature of your
business and the corporate culture.
Following are important email etiquette
rules that apply to nearly all companies.

Be Concise and to the Point

Do not make an e-mail longer than it
needs to be. Remember that reading an
e-mail is harder than reading printed
communications, and a long e-mail can be
very discouraging to read.

Try to make it 80 words or less; 60 if it is likely to

be forwarded.

Use Proper Spelling, Grammar,

and Punctuation
This is important because improper
spelling, grammar and punctuation give a
bad impression of your company.

Use Proper Spelling, Grammar,

and Punctuation
It is also important for conveying the
message properly. E-mails with no full stops
or commas are difficult to read and can
sometimes even change the meaning of the
text.
I done it write, huh boss?

Use Proper Spelling, Grammar,

and Punctuation
It is also important for conveying the
message properly. E-mails with no full
stops or commas are difficult to read and
can sometimes even change the meaning
of the text.
And, if your program has a spell checking
option, why not use it?

Use Proper Structure and Layout

Since reading from a screen is more
difficult than reading from paper, the
structure and lay out is very important for
e-mail messages.

Use Proper Structure and Layout

Write a salutation for each new subject email.

Good Morning Dave,

Dear John,

Greetings Earthlings,

Hello staff,

Try to keep the email brief (one screen length).

Return emails within the same time you would a

phone call.

Check for punctuation, spelling, and grammatical

errors.

Use a font that has a professional or neutral look.

Use Proper Structure and Layout

Use short paragraphs and blank lines
between each paragraph.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxx

Use Proper Structure and Layout

When making points, number them or
mark each point as separate (bullet) to aid
understanding and add emphasis.

Do Not Write in CAPITALS

IF YOU WRITE IN CAPITALS IT SEEMS
AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING.

This can be highly annoying and might

trigger an unwanted response in the form of
a flame mail. Therefore, try not to send any
email text in capitals.

Take Care with Abbreviations and

Emoticons.
In business emails, try not to use
abbreviations such as BTW (by the way),
JK (just kidding) and LOL (laugh out loud).
The recipient might not be aware of the
meanings of the abbreviations, and in
business emails these are generally not
appropriate.

Take Care with Abbreviations and

Emoticons.
The same goes for emoticons, such as the
smiley :-). If you are not sure whether your
recipient knows what it means, it is better
not to use it.
:-) = smile

:-0 = Oh! Ah! Oh,no!

;-) = wink

:-( = frown

Do Not Use Email to Discuss

Confidential Information.
Sending an email is like sending a
postcard; anyone can read it. If you don't
want your email to be displayed on a
bulletin board, don't send it.

Some things are better said in person, or not said at all.

Do Not Use Email to Discuss

Confidential Information.
Moreover, never make any libelous, sexist

or racially discriminating comments in

emails, even if they are meant to be a joke.

Read the Email Before You Send It

A lot of people don't bother to read an
email before they send it out, as can be
seen from the many spelling and grammar
mistakes contained in emails.
Reading your email through the eyes of the

recipient will help you send a more effective

message and avoid misunderstandings and
inappropriate comments.

Flaming
Flaming is a virtual term for venting or
sending inflammatory messages in email.

Avoid flaming because it tends to create a

great deal of conflict that spirals out of control.

Flaming
Flame fights are the equivalent of food
fights and tend to affect observers in a
very negative way.

What you say cannot be taken back; it is in

black and white.

Company Liability
Many companies will have email policies that
include all the do's and don'ts concerning the
use of the company's email system.

The rules can be monitored by a program

administrator to insure the employees are
following the rules.

Following the etiquette rules and company

policies will help you keep your job, and reduce
the companys exposure to law suits.

Works Cited
Email Replies. Email Etiquette. Google.com. Email Replies.com
Casa Grande, AZ. 20 December, 2007
<http://www.emailreplies.com>.
Perdue University Writing Lab. Email Etiquette. Google.com.
Perdue OWL. Casa Grande, AZ. 21 December, 2007
<http://owl.english.purdue.edu>.