The email mistakes no professional should ever make
No.8 is a cardinal sin…
Words: Gentleman's Journal
Emailing is something that many of us spend an inane amount of time doing. Sent on-the-go, at any godforsaken hour of the night, on your laptop, phone or desktop, there is no escaping the relentless task. But like anything, it is subject to a list of dos and don’ts to ensure it is used properly. These are the key things to avoid…
1. A lack of concern for grammar and spelling
It shows laziness, an absence of care and a pretentious self-importance that you are too busy to re-read something. Errors stick out horribly, but they only take a few minutes to rectify.
2. CC’ing in the person you are talking about
You know that sinking feeling, as you gripe about your terrible manager or colleague and then accidentally copy them into the thread…
3. Leaving an email unacknowledged
To not reply, generally speaking, is a shameful mark. Replying to say you will reply in full tomorrow (or at a later date) is more polite than ignoring it altogether. It is a surefire way to annoy people.
4. The use of sarcasm
It is hard to convey when written. For some, the use of sarcasm is as second nature as breathing, but when it comes to emails, this doesn’t necessarily translate well – and misinterpreted sarcasm all too easily comes across as blunt rudeness.
5. Don’t write an email in the heat of anger only to regret it later
We all like a loud keyboard-thumping email, where well-structured points flow thick and easy; but, more often than not, these do little to help.
6. Never use abbreviations or textspeak
No one is short of time to the extent that they need to write ‘u’ rather than ‘you’, or ‘m8’ rather than ‘mate’ – although you shouldn’t be using the word mate at all come to think of it. ‘TY’ is just criminal.
7. Using a crazy font that jazzes up your email
Keep it conventional and traditional – a whacky type causes a book to be judged…
8. Mentioning an attachment and then forgetting to attach it
It looks amateurish and consequently has to be followed by an apology email and the file.
9. Giving too much information
They may have asked how your weekend was, but they don’t need to hear about how you had one too many shots and ended up with your head stuck in the basin...
10. Get their name right
There is no excuse.
Want more etiquette advice? These are the most common mistakes people make on their CV…
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