Email writing tips

Many of our English students are in the work force. So obviously the students are very concerned about being taken seriously at the office, and that means learning to communicate fluently in English with co-workers and clients. One of the biggest concerns we often hear about is how to write effective and polite emails. Emails are meant to communicate clearly and briefly, but the recipient can easily misunderstand the intent behind the email. Here is an interesting take on how email communication will play out in real life, acted out by Tripp and Tyler, the sketch comedy duo.  

We have all made these mistakes before, but we can’t take it back! So it's worth taking some time to think about how to improve our email writing habits. I came across a Forbes article with an editor’s guide to writing ridiculously good emails, and wanted to share a few points from this article.  Here are a few pointers to share to improve the quality of our emails.

1. Slow Down – make sure you have read the emails in your inbox, and don’t be in such a rush to respond back. It takes time for anyone to formulate your thoughts.
   
2. Make sure it has a beginning, middle and end – You might think, it’s not an essay I’m writing! But the recipient will appreciate a little nicety from you as an intro, give them all the necessary information they need to take action in the body, and make sure the recipient knows what action to take in the conclusion. 
3. Proofread and Fact Check – make sure you are getting the names correct, dates and addresses fact checked, and feel out the email by checking your emoticons and exclamation points. Do you want the email to be enthusiastic or more professional and serious?
4. Think how you would feel if it went public – It can happen, so make sure your email sounds respectful and professional!

Just a few pointers, but considering these few points before you press “send” can be the difference between being taken seriously or not by your colleagues and clients.

What are your thoughts on writing emails? Let us know!!