So far, I've talked about the importance of choosing a good email address, your subject line and given you some tips for a more effective body of text. Here are the last five tips to help you form a more effective body of email. 6. Check spelling and grammar This section may not be as critical when you are emailing a friend, but if even when emailing your best friend, spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes can result in miscommunication and hurt feelings: “Ill meet you at 7 am not coming at 8” Does she mean she’s meeting me at 7am because she is not coming at 8am or does she mean she’s ill and not coming at 8am but will...
Several recent studies show that email is deceptively more difficult that most people are aware. Research reveals that 78% of people believe they are clearly communicating and 89% of receivers believe they are correctly interpreting an email. However, the unfortunate reality is that the receiver correctly interprets an email message only 56% of the time! Why the discrepancy? Email is devoid of body language, facial expressions, vocal inflection, gestures, and other nonverbal cues which make up 93% of face-to-face communication! Though an email is easy and convenient to write, we often forget that the other person may not interpret what we type the way we meant it especially since the only things the receiver can use to interpret our email...
Apparently, today is Ask a Stupid Question Day. It's been said that there is no such thing as a stupid question and that the only stupid question is the one that isn't asked. However, did you ever wonder why certain questions aren't asked? Here are some: 1. Why is it that we don't say "God bless you" when someone coughs? 2. If you file chapter 11 twice, does that make it a chapter 22? 3. Did anybody ever die of Boogie Fever? 4. If counting sheep really works, do the sheep stay awake being around each other because they are mathematically challenged? 5. Why is it that a pair of socks is two but a pair of underwear...
On Monday, I began a new seven part series on effective email with an in depth look at choosing our email address wisely. Today I continue the series with a look at the subject line. Your Subject Line Make sure your subject line is reflective of what you are going to say in the body of your email. If it sounds too much like spam, it will be deleted by the owner who things it IS spam. If it is blank, it may be deleted because it looks like spam. I get a lot of spam with nothing in the subject line. Another issue may be that the recipient may not realize this email is from YOU. I sometimes receive...
Communication has evolved a great deal in the technological age. I've talked about what kinds of communication are best for various situations, I've pointed out the pitfalls of different forms of communication and I've discussed how they each have been misused. This week, I'd like to begin a brand new series of articles that will share the details of writing an effective email. Email is a form of communication that most people use and are familiar with, but as JoJoism#20 states, "Do not mistake speaking for communicating. One involves an ability and the other mastery." The same concept is just as true of the informal written word called email. Just because we do something often, doesn't mean we do it...
