Email etiquette: 10 dos and don’ts

When email use became common in the early ’90s, the business world changed. Email now consumes a significant portion of our workdays.

According to a study by the International Data Corporation (IDC), workers spend 28 percent of their workweeks reading and answering email.

While we try to work faster and more efficiently, we mustn’t forget the social rules that accompany any form of communication.

Here are some dos and don’ts of email etiquette:

Do have a clear subject line.

Most of us have hundreds of emails clogging our inboxes every day, so the clearer your subject line, the more likely the recipient will read your message.

For example, if you’re sending a proposal, write: “The Fitch Proposal is Attached.”

Don’t forget your signature.

Every email should include a signature that tells the recipient who you are and how to contact you. Set it up to automatically appear at the end of each email. Include all of your contact details—address, email and phone number—so the recipient doesn’t have to look up anything.