Netiquette and Effective Emails

1. The purpose of e-mail:
E-mail, a shortened term for the word electronic mail, is a form of communication that is becoming more and more popular every day. The primary purpose of email is to create an electronic way to effectively communicate with others via computers. It is a much quicker and efficient way to send and deliver messages, especially to people who might be further away or not as easy to contact. When composing emails, one must consider his or her audience and form the message accordingly. Another purpose of e-mail is to develop networks both inside and outside of a business or company. When used for this purpose, as well as any other time, the sender needs to be conscious of the emotion that he or she is portraying and make sure that the message does not come across too strong or confusing.

2. Use of capitals and lowercase letters:
The format and visual aspect of emails is a very important concept to consider when composing an e-mail message. A big part of this includes the proper use of capitals and lowercase letters. As stated in the previous paragraph, it is imperative to be aware of the tone of the message being sent. It is sometimes easier to come across stronger than intended when the message is in writing and does not involve face to face contact. The sender should avoid the use of all capital letters because it implies yelling and possible anger. This is not an effective way to portray a message.

3. Subject lines:
One of the most important components of an e-mail address is the subject line. This determines whether or not the reader opens the message and also provides the reader with his or her first impression of the message. A subject line should be very clear and should accurately describe the content and purpose of the message. It is also important to keep in mind that the subject line should be brief and not go into too much detail. A long subject line could possibly create confusion or make the reader not want to read the message.

Websites I used:
http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/09NETIQT.HTM

http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm

http://www.dtcc.edu/cs/rfc1855.html