e-mail etiquette: 12 things you SHOULD know !
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- Be informal.
- Keep messages brief and to the point.
- Use sentence case. USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS LOOKS AS IF YOU'RE SHOUTING.
- Use the blind copy and courtesy copy appropriately. Don't use BCC to keep others from seeing who you copied;
- Don't use e-mail as an excuse to avoid personal contact. Don't forget the value of face-to-face or even voice-to-voice communication. Remember that e-mail isn't private.
- Remember that e-mail can be forwarded,
- Be sparing with group e-mail.
- Use the subject field to indicate content and purpose. Don't just say, "Hi!" or "From Laura." Agree on acronyms to use that quickly identify actions.
- Don't send chain letters, virus warnings, or junk mail.
- Remember that your tone can't be heard in e-mail.
- Use a signature that includes contact information. To ensure that people know who you are, include a signature that has your contact information, including your mailing address, Web site, and phone numbers.
- Summarize long discussions.
Source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA012054101033.aspx