|
"These media (electronic mail and messaging systems) are quite different from any other means of communication. Many of the old rules do not apply."
Shapiro, Norman Z., and Robert H. Anderson.
Toward an Ethics and Etiquette for Electronic Mail. 1985. 13 June 2002
Using E-mail to Communicate
E-mail is an enormously popular way to converse. However, it presents some interesting communication challenges. Before you send your next message remember that e-mail is:
- Permanent - messages can be stored indefinitely
- Changeable - what lands in your Inbox may not be the original message
- Difficult to use when expressing emotion - you can't really convey your tone to the receiver
E-mail Tips and Reminders
Listed below are a few tips and reminders concerning proper e-mail usage
- Think before you compose your message
- Identify the theme of your message with a clear statement in the subject line
- Read your message before you send it
- Pay attention to where your message is going (to an individual or a listserv)
- Use caution when forwarding messages (almost everyone has seen the same jokes and hoaxes)
- Don't type in all caps. This is considered shouting via e-mail
- Avoid using abbreviations that may not be obvious to everyone (IMHO, IRL, LOL)
- Be considerate of others! Don't send a derogatory message about someone to a large group
"You can't write tone."
Poe, Andrea C. "Don't Touch That 'Send' Button!"
HR Magazine 46.7 (2001): 74-80. EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premier.
Flaming
Flaming is the act of expressing intense emotion in an e-mail message. It often leads to an emotional response via e-mail and is a barrier to effective communication
- When you're feeling upset about something it's much better to avoid electronic communication altogether and follow-up with someone in person
- If you reply to a message in anger, you may regret it later. Reread the message to ensure that you've understood it properly or let some time pass before responding
- Because of the difficulty in conveying feelings via e-mail, flaming sometimes occurs mistakenly because the receiver of a message does not understand the sender's sentiments
- To avoid flames, the use of emoticons can be helpful to show your intent. For instance, to illustrate that you are joking you might use :) at the end of your message
More Information
There are a lot of e-mail etiquette (or netiquette) sites available online. Here are a few that you may find useful:
"E-mail is a boon...but it can also prove to be a real headache. Treat it like other, more traditional forms of communication, and you'll be :)"
Spanier, Christopher E. "Getting Personal: Avoid Common E-mail Errors" Marketing News 33.9 (1999): 27. EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premier. |
