The Basic Rule of Email Etiquette Is Simple: Email to Others As You D Like Them to Email to You

Lesson Seven

What’s next?

One of the best guides to email etiquette is your personal pet peeves list. Does it annoy you when people red flag every message? Are you copied on too many messages about things you don’t need to know? Are you at risk of repetitive stress injury from deleting chain emails, stupid jokes, and phony virus warnings?

The basic rule of email etiquette is simple: Email to others as you’d like them to email to you.

If it’s so simple, why do people so often send irritating or ineffective emails? One reason is that email makes it easy to fire off quick replies. Another is egocentricity: We know what we mean, so we assume others do too. Finally, many people were never taught how to use email professionally. They may not know that using the BCC, or blind copy, field can backfire when emailing coworkers.

Mastering the fine points of email etiquette can make you stand out because of your professional communication skills. These resources will help you answer etiquette questions and write emails to handle difficult situations.

How can I learn more?

Angell, David and Brent Heslop. Elements of E-mail Style: Communicate Effectively via Electronic Mail. New York: Addison-Wesley, 2002.

In the spirit of Strunk and White, the authors cover everything from how to structure a long message to sentence rhythm and mechanics. Their treatment of how to add emphasis to messages without using HTML is especially helpful.

Eddy, Bill. BIFF: Quick Responses to High Conflict People—Their Personal Attacks, Hostile Email and Social Media Meltdowns. Scottsdale, AZ: High Conflict Institute Press, 2011.

Eddy, a lawyer, explains how to manage conflict by keeping responses brief, informative, friendly, and firm. He provides real-life examples and models how to rewrite responses to fit the BIFF criteria.

Egan, Marsha. Inbox Detox. Available at

This tool allows you to rate the way you handle email. The results will help you break bad habits and be more productive.

Kallos, Judith. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Business E-Mail Etiquette [ebook]. Available at

Bad netiquette can be a deal-breaker, according to Kallos. This guide, based on the author's coaching practice, covers everything from attachments to corporate e-mail policies.

You’ll find more recommended resources in Write Better Emails: How to Be Short, Civil, and Savvy.

Would you like to know if your emails meet professional standards? Do you want personalized advice on how to write more quickly and efficiently? Check out the coaching options at WriteBetterAtWork.com.