Even though email has become a common form of communication, there are still many people who do not follow some basic rules, or etiquette, when they compose emails. Email etiquette is especially important in formal situations, such as at work or school. Good etiquette can get you positive results, but bad etiquette can leave a bad impression on others. Being professional when you write emails means following certain standards.
First of all, a formal email should be complete. Always put a subject in the subject line, and try to make it as specific as possible, so the other person knows the purpose of your email. Writing Information isn’t enough, but Information about your interview process is. There should always be a greeting in formal e-mails, such as those to teachers. When students don’t use an instructor’s formal name, they could offend the instructor. Dear Prof. Winters is better than Teacher or nothing at all.
Formal emails also need to have correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. After you have finished writing an email, read it from beginning to end and edit your sentences. Missing commas or periods might demonstrate to others that you are not careful, which could lead to a bad impression. Use the “spell check” feature to check your spelling before sending the email, and avoid using slang or abbreviations like LOL (laugh out loud) or BTW (by the way). Using abbreviations might be okay for friends, but they might make a bad first impression in work or school settings.
Schools and businesses require more formal writing, and they expect people to use proper email etiquette. Following some simple rules can help you write more professional emails. When you are careful about how you write, you can leave a good first impression on others.