1. “Untangling the Web - E-Mail Etiquette” “Untangling the Web - E-Mail Etiquette” Written by: Keith C. Ivey Presented by: Michael Persons

2. Introduction Learn how to use your e-mail program: Learn how to use your e-mail program: Keep your lines short Keep your lines short Check where your message is going before you send it Check where your message is going before you send it Use blind copy when sending mass messages Use blind copy when sending mass messages Don't use formatting Don't use formatting Use a signature Use a signature General Readability: General Readability: Don't send people things they can't read Don't send people things they can't read Make your Web address easy for recipients to use Make your Web address easy for recipients to use Don't overquote Don't overquote Know when it is appropriate to send an email: Know when it is appropriate to send an email: Don't send junk Don't send junk Use a meaningful subject line Use a meaningful subject line

3. What is “Netiquette?” Netiquette is a term that has come into being in the last ten years, blending the two words “Internet” and “Etiquette” It refers to the generally accepted conventions of politeness that are used in email, message boards, and general internet communication.

4. Learn how to use your e-mail program: Keep your lines short Very often email programs will have a significant difficulty formatting very long lines. Very often email programs will have a significant difficulty formatting very long lines. Word wrap is often done inconsistently between email programs. Word wrap is often done inconsistently between email programs. Long lines of printed text are difficult to read. Long lines of printed text are difficult to read. Try keeping to a maximum line length of around 64 characters. Try keeping to a maximum line length of around 64 characters.

5. Learn how to use your e-mail program: Check where your message is going Be very careful when replying to email, Look at the "To:" and "Cc:" lines before you send! Be very careful when replying to email, Look at the "To:" and "Cc:" lines before you send! Often emails from long discussion lists are forwarded incorrectly; an individual reply might be sent to the entire list! Often emails from long discussion lists are forwarded incorrectly; an individual reply might be sent to the entire list! Use blind copy when sending mass messages Use blind copy when sending mass messages To prevent the previous situation from occurring, use the BCC field to send emails to a large number of people. This ensures that any reply send to your message is not passed on to each address on the list. To prevent the previous situation from occurring, use the BCC field to send emails to a large number of people. This ensures that any reply send to your message is not passed on to each address on the list.

6. Learn how to use your e-mail program: Don't use formatting Due to the prevalence of email-born viruses these days, many email programs disable advanced formatting by default, rendering HTML tags into distracting plain text. Due to the prevalence of email-born viruses these days, many email programs disable advanced formatting by default, rendering HTML tags into distracting plain text. Avoid: Avoid: Fancy HTML formatting Fancy HTML formatting Italics, bold, font changes Italics, bold, font changes Tables and graphics Tables and graphics Make sure to send only plain text to a discussion list. Make sure to send only plain text to a discussion list.

7. Learn how to use your e-mail program: Use a signature Most modern email programs give you the option of automatically adding a few lines of text to the bottom of each email. Most modern email programs give you the option of automatically adding a few lines of text to the bottom of each email. When used properly, the signature allows for a very professional and consistent mark on each email you send. Included should be your name and contact information. When used properly, the signature allows for a very professional and consistent mark on each email you send. Included should be your name and contact information. However, cute sayings or ASCII text art are generally seen as unprofessional. Keep it to four lines if possible. However, cute sayings or ASCII text art are generally seen as unprofessional. Keep it to four lines if possible.

8. General Readability: Don’t send people things they cannot read Unless you know that the recipient's email program is able to recognize advanced instruction sets, use only plain ASCII text. Otherwise, the character will likely show up as nonsense on the recipient’s computer. Unless you know that the recipient's email program is able to recognize advanced instruction sets, use only plain ASCII text. Otherwise, the character will likely show up as nonsense on the recipient’s computer. Plain ASCII does not include Plain ASCII does not include curly quotes curly quotes Apostrophes Apostrophes em dashes em dashes other special characters other special characters Keep to basic English characters. If you want to send something a little more exotic, check beforehand with your recipient. Keep to basic English characters. If you want to send something a little more exotic, check beforehand with your recipient.

9. General Readability: Make your web address easy to read If you decide to include a web address somewhere in your message, make sure to include the entire URL, from the http://. This will tell most email programs to automatically create a hyperlink, simplifying users’ experiences navigating to your webpage. If you decide to include a web address somewhere in your message, make sure to include the entire URL, from the http://. This will tell most email programs to automatically create a hyperlink, simplifying users’ experiences navigating to your webpage. If you run a professional website, including your URL in a signature is often a good idea. If you run a professional website, including your URL in a signature is often a good idea.

10. General Readability: Don’t over quote When you quote the message you're replying to, include only the parts that are relevant to your reply. Make it clear which text is quoted and which is yours. When you quote the message you're replying to, include only the parts that are relevant to your reply. Make it clear which text is quoted and which is yours. The usual way is to mark the quoted text with a greater- than sign (>) at the beginning of each line; your program probably can do that automatically. The usual way is to mark the quoted text with a greater- than sign (>) at the beginning of each line; your program probably can do that automatically. It is generally easier to read quotes that are included before your reply, not afterward. It is generally easier to read quotes that are included before your reply, not afterward.

11. Know when it is appropriate to send email: Don’t send junk Everyone familiar with email understands the frustration of an inbox full of spam, chain letters, and stale jokes. Everyone familiar with email understands the frustration of an inbox full of spam, chain letters, and stale jokes. Unless you specially know that your recipient approves of your message, try to restrain from sending out unsolicited, useless email. Unless you specially know that your recipient approves of your message, try to restrain from sending out unsolicited, useless email. Virus alerts can be helpful, but are often incorrect or outdated. Check Computer Virus Myths (http://www.kumite.com/myths/) before clicking send if you absolutely must be heard. Virus alerts can be helpful, but are often incorrect or outdated. Check Computer Virus Myths (http://www.kumite.com/myths/) before clicking send if you absolutely must be heard.http://www.kumite.com/myths/ Use a meaningful subject line. People are more likely to respond to well thought-out emails with accurate titles than random inquiries. Use a meaningful subject line. People are more likely to respond to well thought-out emails with accurate titles than random inquiries.

12. Any Questions?