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The task of communicating successfully online poses challenges that offline communication does not. Without the accompaniment of gestures, facial expressions, and tones of voice, words alone can easily be misinterpreted. And the internet has spawned a whole new world of abbreviations that can be mystifying to the uninitiated. Here are some tips to help you get your message across.

1. Just because you're anonymous/pseudonymous, doesn't mean you can forget basic etiquette. Never say anything online that you wouldn't say to someone's face, and avoid being caught up in online spats between other users.

2. Give the profanity a miss. If you really must vent, find alternatives or just throw in a string of symbols: &#%@!. You'll make your meaning clear with minimal chance of offending.

3. If you're new to a particular chat room, message board, or forum, lurk for a while to learn what the customs are and what is deemed appropriate. When you start to interact with other users, modify your aaproach to reflect the group norms. This will help you fit in and reduce the chance of putting your digital foot in it.

4. If you want to emphasise something, and can't use HTML tags, *use asterisks*. Writing something in all caps in the online equivalent of SHOUTING.

5. Stick to one topic at a time. This keeps the discussion threads organised.

6. Always read through your message before you post it. Correct any typos or spelling mistakes, check that you've said everything you wanted to say, and make ure that it is clear and not liable to misinterpretation.

7. Respond to other people's queries and replies politely and as promptly as possible. Criticism should always be constructive; don't employ it for minor things like someone's overlooking a point you thought was obvious.

8. If you must use acronyms, stick to the most common ones; not everyone is familiar with internet shorthand. If you see an abbreviation you don't understand, check an online resource such as www.acronymfinder.com before posting a complaint about being unable to understand what's being said.

9. Good grammar and full sentences will always make a good impression. Stick to these especially if the discussion arena is at all professional or work-related.

10. Use smileys or emoticons sparingly, as they clutter up posts and don't look professional. Their best use is to make it clear that you're joking; particularly if you are prone to sarcasm, they'll help prevent you words being taken the wrong way.

11. If you're going to be unavailable for a while due to other commitments, let people know so that no-one will get cranky when you fail to respond.

12. Cultivate an optimistic outlook; choose to think the best of your fellow internet users. Don't assume that the lack of response to your comment is a brush-off; there could be a perfectly understandab;e reason why someone hasn't replied. Just keep on being your netiquette-minding self.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Hedger.
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