Emailing Tips for High School Students

The use of email has become an efficient tool for communication. However, email is less formal than most standard ways of communication such as the telephone or traditional mail. With this informality comes a host of variables that makes the internet stand out from other sources of communication. Below is a list of tips for email use that can help to create better communication when using email as a way to communicate.

1. When creating an email, make sure to keep the subject line as brief and descriptive as possible.

2. If your message is a response to another email, make sure that the subject line reads, “RE”. If you create an email which subject line reads “URGENT” or “FYI”, make sure to include a brief reason or description in the subject line.

3. When sending web pages, include the URL text http://

4. Break up paragraphs for easy reading. Don’t create long emails containing long run on paragraphs with no breaks. Keep the emails short and to the point.

5. Remember, emotion is hard to gauge. Use asterisks to “lighten” words, or happy faces J to help the reader gauge the tone being set.

6. When sending important or work related emails, always use grammar and spell checkers to make sure there are no spelling mistakes.

7. Always use proper greetings when necessary.

8. Always sign your email. It lets the recipient know that they have received a complete message.

9. Make sure to respond to your emails in a timely manner, especially if you know they are waiting for your reply.

10. Always read your emails before you send them, and make sure that you are sending them to the person intended. Always keep the recipient in mind when checking for mistakes.