The Tale of the E-Mail

Although computers have become a part and parcel of modern life and youngsters rely extensively on e-mails, the art of written communication still eludes many. What exactly does it take to write an impressive e-mail?

Writing unimpressive e-mails can have disastrous implications. Your application to grad school may be rejected, potential employers may strike you off at one glance, your lover may dump you, your father may scream at you and your colleagues may be offended. Bad email etiquette, thus, can be a roadblock in every sphere of your life.
Follow the below mentioned steps and make your life easy and communication effective and impressive

The golden rules of emails

• When writing formal letters, keep it brief and to the point. Make sure you get rid of all windy sentences, your verbose self-descriptions and other uninteresting frills. The first sentence of your email should introduce you. The second sentence should state your intention and purpose for writing. Also remember to politely thank the person for his time and sign off.
• Exercise restraint and show respect if you are in a service relation with someone even if several emails have been exchanged.
• Learn to distinguish between personal and private letters.
• In an official letter, don’t club several disparate pieces of information or points together. Write a separate mail for each and stick to the subject heading. 
• Don’t rush off replies every time you check your mail. Wait till you can invest some time and thought into your response.
• No matter who you are writing to, try and be polite if you want to avoid misunderstandings. Remember everything is magnified over email.
• If you are writing a personal email, then pretend that you are talking to the person. This will simulate a conversational atmosphere and make the other person feel cared for.
• Never use caps because it looks like you are shouting. Turn it off! It is rude and irksome.
• Even if you are from Gen Y, writing emails in shorthand like “c u smtm nxt wntr” is downright annoying. Do continue spelling words properly. It saves the other person’s time. And it will save you many a rejection.
• If it’s a difficult letter that you have to send, then write a draft and sleep over it. Never immediately send excitable material off.
• Don’t respond immediately when angry. Come back to it after lunch or a coffee break.
• Change the subject title with changing content. The subject headlines should attract attention and invite the person to open your mail. Don’t make them lengthy. Pithy, informative and intelligent communication  is the key to getting quicker responses.

Remember communication is all about getting the purpose solved. And you can do wonders with good writing skills.