The Way to Work: E-mail Etiquette

Sending a message to the wrong person is a common e-mail misstep that can occasionally prove catastrophic. “Freakonomics” co-author Stephen Dubner writes in his New York Times blog about one occasion when a misdirected e-mail produced some really awkward results. Blog commenters have added their own, similar experiences.

You’re furious at your coworker. You need to vent about him to your best friend. You begin the e-mail barrage, unable to stop thinking about how ridiculously annoying so-and-so is. You’re concentrating so hard on him, in fact, that you type his name into the address box instead of your best friend’s. Then you hit send. Yikes! Believe it or not, this has happened to a lot of people, and it might happen to you some day if you’re not fastidious about monitoring your e-mail behavior. Microsoft’s Small Business center offers seven other e-mail mistakes you might make, and explains how they’ll detract from your professionalism.

E-mail mistakes can indeed be destructive for your career, but they can also serve as fodder for funny (or cheesy) jokes like this one on Thatwasfunny.com.

Americans aren’t known for being etiquette sticklers; they try to be nice while at the same time often adhering to the theory that anything goes. But composing work-appropriate e-mails requires you to pay a bit more attention to the niceties of good communication. In 2006, Debrett’s, the famed English publisher of guides to the peerage and to etiquette, added a “techno-politeness” chapter to an update of its manners guide, “Correct Form.” Everything you need to know about sending absurdly classy e-mails is in the guide, and is also conveniently listed in this Independent article. You’ll be simultaneously typing and turning up your nose in no time. (Did we mention “Common Form” firmly insists there should be no sarcasm in e-mail?) In all seriousness, the article provides simple, genuine and valuable advice.

The Owl at Purdue University offers writing help of all kinds; this particular section of the site is devoted to writing e-mail. Particularly suited for students or those newly entering the professional sector, the guide provides useful niche information. It’s valuable for anyone looking to make a good impression via e-mail, including seasoned employees who have a few questions about e-mail that they’d like cleared up. When is it time to end an e-mail conversation? Who is it appropriate to send attachments to? What kind of information should never be in an e-mail? The Owl provides insight about it all, so your communication can be polished and appropriate at all times.