Learning to effectively communicate electronically

We interact more and more with the written word all the time messaging now exceeds telephone traffic and is the dominant form of business communication. Without immediate feedback from the reader, it’s easy to be misunderstood

Be informal, not sloppy Traditional spelling, grammar, and punctuation rules apply Keep messages brief and to the point Concentrate on one subject per message whenever possible Use sentence case Using ALL CAPS looks like you are yelling and writing in all lowercase makes you look lazy

Use the blind copy and courtesy copy appropriately Copy only people who are directly involved Don't use as an excuse to avoid personal contact. communication isn't appropriate when sending confusing or emotional messages. Don't use to avoid an uncomfortable situation or to cover up a mistake.

Remember that isn't private Never put in an message anything that you wouldn't put on a postcard Be sparing with group Only use when needing collective input Use the subject field to indicate content and purpose Don't just say, "Hi!" or "From Susie.“

Don't send chain letters, virus warnings, or junk mail This annoys most people and may contain something harmful to your computer Remember that your tone can't be heard in Don’t be sarcastic in because it can be misinterpreted Use emoticons sparingly

Use a signature that includes contact information Summarize long discussions Scrolling through pages of replies to understand a discussion is annoying

The Purdue OWL. Purdue U Writing Lab, November 6, 2012 Laura Stack. “12 tips for better etiquette.” The Productivity Pro. help/12-tips-for-better- -etiquette-HA aspx. November 6, 2012