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Begin the message with a “Hello,” “Hi,” or “Dear,” followed by the recipient’s name. An unprofessional salutation could land your correspondence in the trash bin, unread. Address all recipients with respect and professionalism. Your email is a reflection of you, and it is often the first form of communication you share with someone. How you begin and end your message is as important as the body of the message according to email etiquette rules. If you email a professor, for example, be sure to include your last name and the class number in the subject line. It should be easy to understand and provide a concise introduction to your message. SubjectĮmail etiquette rules say your subject line should reflect the topic of your message. Remember your reader can see your email address prior to opening the email, and if it doesn’t sound professional, they may delete your message without reading a word. Gone are the days when it was acceptable to use a silly email address like “babybunny439” or “hotstuff22”. An address that states your name will make you easier to remember. Outside of work and school, it’s best to use a professional-sounding email address. Your professor will recognize the account format and will be more inclined to respond to your message promptly. Likewise, if you email a professor or university administrator, it’s best to use your school email account. If you have a work-specific email address, email etiquette rules say use this address for any work-related correspondence. Here are some email etiquette rules to consider… before you hit the send button. So it’s important to do everything you can to minimize any misinterpretation of your message. And unfortunately, miscommunication is all too common with written communication. It’s harder to gauge your reader’s reaction without seeing their body language or facial expression. Writing effective emails is a skill developed through experience, and there are email etiquette rules you must learn.Įmailing is not the same as speaking face-to-face, so it requires a different set of communication skills. Writing emails may seem straightforward: type out your message, enter the address, and hit send.
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