Proper Email Etiquette

Letter writing is an art, and it is quickly becoming a lost art. But has it really been lost or has it simply changed mediums? We are living in the age of virtual and instant communication. Proper communication rules apply to email just as they apply to formal written communication in a business environment.

All to often I have encountered poor communication in emails from otherwise intelligent persons. In particular “verbal nastiness” (Summerfield, 2) that is demeaning to the reader is often the biggest reason for conflict stemming from email. Email emboldens us to write things we would not say in person. When I have been hired to give training seminars on business communication the biggest complaint by far is the comments sent through email messages. I find it hard to convey to these people that email should be no different than verbal communication. I find it frustrating and I feel that teaching email etiquette should be a priority in High schools and undergraduate programs.

Summerfield, Morgan (2008). How to Use Proper Email Etiquette for Business Communication. Retrieved September 29, 2008, Web site: www.associatedcontent.com/article/56188/how_to_use_proper_email_etiquette_for.html