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I had to email a tutor of mine today and it struck me that i really have no idea what the 'correct' form for a (relatively) impersonal email is supposed to be. Are you supposed to write them like letters:
"Dear Dr. X, blah blah...."
If you just write "Hi, i'm blah blah and i was wondering blah blah blah....." is that considered rude (or maybe blasé, haha)?
Is there a correct email etiquette, or is email too new for social conventions to have set in yet?
For anything remotely professional I use letter style writing. Anything else I'll typically use a more conversational and informal writing style.
If it's informal to someone around the office that I know well, I'll usually just say:
"Bill-
bla blah
-Jeremy"
Sometimes, I'll spice it up with ASCII hearts (<3) and faces (o_0)
Otherwise I'll use the letter format.
Ok this is OT, but im wondering now. Isnt that heart backwards? Yes i know there are no set rules on this stuff but hear me out. Just about every emoticon has the top side facing the left. Look at the smileys: =) =P =D =O etc. The eyes and top of the head are on the left, going toward the bottom on the right. Nobody draws smileys like O= or P=, thats just plain dumb. In fact, I cant even think of any other ascii like the "heart" <3 because its so against the grain, its backwards from every silly ascii art or emoticon I have seen. I swear this must be some aol morons invention, to so blatantly ignore decades of tradition and time honored.... drawing squiggley things with text....erm....ya... Anyways, though... :D :p ;) :D :p ;) :D :p ;)Quote:
Originally posted by Govtcheez
...ASCII hearts (<3)...
How else should I write it?
We could start a trend here, people!
I use <3 all the time. It does not defy any ruleset that I am aware of.
Where is the RFC on smilies?
YES! We need an official internet standard for producing ascii art and emoticons! I was simply going on history and prescadence, however this calls for something broader! We need to write RFC3588 (i think thats where the last one ends....) And tell the world that we wont stand for bss aackwards art! :D
There is a set of rules you should follow, if you want to look proffesional. Do a google on some of the proffesional CV making sites for example, and they show you how.
:)
hmm... E> kinda square... (> looks like pizza Z> heart problems?
In my professional writting class we spent four very long and miserable weeks "learning" how to compose a proper email message based on a variety of situations. According to some of the material I had to read 90% of people do not know how to send an email in the correct format.
figure this one out
: )~ >-->-o
haha
:o
(second line)
I could tell you how NOT to write an email. I see plenty of really filthy and offensive emails in my line of work.
I work as a Sys Admin, and one of my Co-Workers is the Internet/Online Development Sys Admin. Anyway, the company we work for sells a type of inventory (I don't want to get too specific) but there is always more demand than supply. So some people miss out and they get upset then they send email to our online help address. Anyway, to cut a long story short, this one particular person couldn't purchase exactly what they wanted (through no fault of our own), and sent an email wishing Aids on us and any offspring we may have! It was absolutely filthy, and I can't repeat everything here, but what was most surprising was the product they were trying to buy was related to Bob the Builder, a kids product. I just couldn't believe that someone who has kids could think like this...
Wahh!! I just sent an email this morning to my professor about the thread I asked about here and didn't think I used "Dear" and letter format. It was proper and three paragraphs long other than that though... oh dear!