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Email

Have you ever heard of the word netiquette? Netiquette is the new term for Internet etiquette-specifically e-mail. Generally, e-mails are much more casual than formal writing but you still need to be aware of some conventions. Since we cannot see the writer of the e-mail to make judgments about motives and intentions based on tone of voice, gestures, and body language, it is very important to be as clear and concise as possible. E-mail is just another form of writing and you, as the writer, are responsible to communicate your ideas clearly.

Here are some general netiquette "rules."

1. Never, never put anything in e-mail that you wouldn't want on     the front page of the paper.

2. Try to keep your e-mails brief-no more than the screen size.     E-mail is a quick form of communication and people are     likely not to read your e-mail if they have to scroll.

3. Use capitols and punctuation the same way you would in any     other document.

4. There is no reason to ever send an e-mail with spelling     mistakes because Outlook will point out the mistakes. To set     the automatic spell checker go to Tools, then Options, then to     Spelling. Check "always check spelling before sending." You     will only need to set this one time and Outlook will check     every e-mail.

5. Do not use all capitols because IT LOOKS AS IF YOU ARE      SHOUTING.

6. There are all kinds of cutesy symbols you can add to your      e-mails but they are wasted if the recipient doesn't know      them (e.g. FTBOMH and/or :-#-- )

7 . Be sure to write an appropriate subject in the subject line so      that the recipient knows what to expect.

8 . Be careful not to send an e-mail if the issue is sensitive, may      be misinterpreted, or should be handled in person. Be      cautious sending e-mail about disciplinary action, conflicts      about grades, personal information, concern about people,      and/ or complaints.

9 . Because of the spontaneity of e-mail, it is easy to fire off a      response that might be full of anger, name-calling, or      sarcasm. This is called flaming and you should never let      yourself get drawn into this morass.

10 . Be responsible about to whom you send your e-mail. The      Seminary has guidelines about the various contact lists.

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