Netiquette and Email Etiquette

Netiquette (network etiquette) is the code of conduct for respectful and appropriate communication online. Email etiquette is a key part of this.

Top 10 Rules of Email Etiquette:

1. Use a Professional Email Address: Your email address should be a variation of your name, not a nickname (e.g., jane.doe@email.com not surfer_girl_88@email.com).
2. Write a Clear, Concise Subject Line: The subject line should summarise the email's purpose (e.g., 'Marketing Report for Q3 Attached' or 'Question about the upcoming meeting').
3. Know When to Use 'Reply All': Only use 'Reply All' if every single person on the original email chain truly needs to read your response. Otherwise, just reply to the sender.
4. Use Professional Salutations: Address people by their names and use formal greetings unless you have an established informal relationship.
5. Avoid Sarcasm and Humor: Tone is very difficult to interpret in text. What you think is funny might be misinterpreted as rude or unprofessional.
6. Proofread Before Sending: Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
7. Don't Use All Caps: WRITING IN ALL CAPS IS THE VIRTUAL EQUIVALENT OF SHOUTING.
8. Be Careful with Attachments: Don't send excessively large files without warning. If possible, use a cloud sharing service like Google Drive or Dropbox for large files.
9. Respond Promptly: Acknowledge emails within 24-48 hours, even if it's just to say 'Thanks, I've received this and will get back to you by Friday.'
10. Include a Professional Signature: Your email signature should include your full name, title, and company.