Email is usually the most efficient way to communicate in the professional world. Because of this, it's important that you know about email etiquette. Below is a helpful list of Dos and Don'ts in the email world.
The Dos:
1. Save your emails that are sent by others for future reference. If you're unsure how long to save them, ask your boss what the company policy is. Create folders to hold your saved emails. If you're unsure how to create a folder, ask a coworker or a member of your information technology staff.
2. Immediately report any and all spam emails. If you have an information technology department, alert them at once. If you don't, tell your supervisor right away.
3. When sending emails, check your spelling and grammar. Most email software, such as Outlook has a spell check and there's a way to automatically have it check your spelling before an email is sent. If you're unsure how to do this, ask a coworker or a member of your information technology staff. Beware! Not all spelling errors may be picked up. Read your emails before sending them!
4. When replying to emails, check to see if more than one person was addressed in your email and if anyone was copied on it. Make sure to use your "Reply to All" option in this case so everyone is still kept informed.
5. Use your "High Importance" and "Low Importance" options accordingly, if applicable. If you need someone to respond to your email quickly, use the "High Importance" option to capture their attention. If you need to inform your department that you brought doughnuts in and they're in the break room, you may opt to use the "Low Importance" option.
6. If you are working on something for someone else, either internally, or a customer, make sure that this person or persons are copied on any emails you send to research or act on this issue.
7. Ask your company if there is a certain format that they like to use for their emails. Some companies want you to use a certain greeting or closing, but most of all, companies may want certain information in your signature or may want a certain size or type of font or may require the company logo in the email. I'm sure you get the idea.
8. Try to keep your Inbox and Sent box as clear as possible. Some companies have a size limit on your email boxes. If you exceed this limit, you will not be able to receive any more emails. It's very important that you also clean out your "Deleted" folder as well. When you delete an email, it gets put in this folder in case you decide you
Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:
by Pat Gray
To Whom It May Concern - The Do's and Don'ts of Professional Email ....
Sending email is so easy - click a few clicks, type
Email is usually the most efficient way to communicate in the professional world. Because of this, it's important that you
by G. Allendorfer Anderson, PhD
Professional email is much different from the everyday, chatty email most of us exchange with friends and family. It is
When writing a professional email it is best to keep it exactly as referred to in the title of this article, professional.
by Neil Dixon
Millions of emails are sent from workstations every day of the week. Companies spend vast amounts of money on having this
View All Articles on:
Professional email dos and don'ts
Add your voice
Know something about Professional email dos and don'ts?
We want to hear your view.
Write now!
Cast your vote!
Click for your side.
Featured Partner
Breakthrough has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse Breakthrough's featur...more
hide