 | Be brief but not terse.
Short messages can be quickly read and responded to. Remember that some people must pay
for connectivity by the minute. Still, be polite: include a personal salutation
("Dear Mary") and a closing ("Best, Jane.")
|
| Don't copy
messages to others unless they have a real need to know.
|
| In
replying, don't resend the original message, just enough to put your message in context.
|
| Avoid writing in
uppercase letters, which are the cyberspace equivalent of shouting. If you're angry, don't
"flame" -- engaging in nasty outbursts or name
calling. Express your anger
offline.
|
| Don't barrage your
correspondent with the latest jokes (especially with a space-consuming list of other
addressees), and don't use email for gossip or unkind comments.
In many offices, e-mail is
backed up and can be read by others. Assume the whole world can read what you write.
|
| Make judicious use of email
shortcuts and emoticons like "smiley faces" to save words and to express
emotions, since your expressions can't be seen. Use space
saving acronyms: BTW ("By
The Way"), 0T0H ("On The Other Hand"), IMHO ("In My Humble
Opinion"), and "F2F" ("Face To Face.")
|
| Always
give the correspondent a polite reply, even if it's only an acknowledgement that the
message was received.
|
