odds & ends item from JUNE-AUGUST 2010
How to Be a Lady or a Gentleman
Seven Points to Consider Regarding Email
• Always include a subject line in your emails. Be sure that it is concise, yet descriptive. Take time to think through a good subject line so the recipient will have an idea of what the email is about before reading it.
• It is important to respond to emails in a timely fashion. Do not allow the sender to wonder if you received an email.
• Do not write in all capital letters. THIS CAN COME ACROSS AS SHOUTING!
• Be careful when using colored backgrounds in your email or colored text. Although this might seem “fun,” it is often difficult to read.
• Always read the email at least twice before sending it. This will help to avoid misspelled words, grammatical errors, punctuation, or a sentence or phrase the reader could misunderstand.
• Do not use run-on or incomplete sentences. Often, the nature of the “Twitter Age” in which we live makes it hard to maintain the proper standard for our sentences.
• Add personal touches to your emails. Even if it is a business email, or is school- or college-related, include a few pleasantries. This will go a long way in making the recipient feel as though he or she received an email from a human being.