Description

Computer Friendly for Seniors
By Diane Timmons

Can you be rude while using email? Yes, there are some do’s and don’ts that have evolved that you may want to know about. Of all Internet activities, email in the most popular. Nearly 88 percent of Internet users in the U.S. use email. So if you are using email for your correspondence, it pays to be courteous.

For example, if you write the message in your email in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Your recipient will think you are shouting at them. But don’t default to all lower case either, because it looks lazy.

It is important to be concise. State your main point in the first paragraph. And don’t use shortcuts such as “plz” for please or “U” for you. Spell out your words and use proper grammar and punctuation.

Also, never put anything in an email that you would not put on a postcard. It is very public and not secure and any recipient can forward your message to anyone else. Don’t put your social security number, your date of birth or your credit card number in an email. Email hackers are on the lookout to steal your identity, why make it easy for them.

When you are replying to an email, make sure you use the “reply” button so only the sender gets your response. Use “reply all” thoughtfully because the original recipient list will get your comments.

Be sure to attach the picture or document you promised in your text. My suggestion is that you attach the item before you write any text in your message, otherwise you may forget and your recipient will be disappointed. Be considerate of your recipient. Do not attach multiple, large photos (more than 1 MG is usually too large). It’s easy to get carried away now that we have digital cameras, but a large picture may cause your recipient’s email to crash. You can check the size of the photo in your My Pictures folder by positioning your cursor over the file name. A little box should pop up with file size.

Addressing your Email: Use TO, CC and BCC correctly. These terms are left over from our typed business letter writing days.

TO: enter the email address of the main recipient of your email, such as your daughter.

CC: the email addresses of the people who are also interested in your message, such as the rest of the family.

BCC: stands for “blind carbon copy.” As the name suggests, this recipient’s email address will not be listed in the email header. Your other recipients will not know you have included this person in your message.

Subject: Type a very brief topic of your email on this line. Leaving the subject line blank may mean your email won’t be opened.

And finally, use a signature line that shows who you are. Most email systems let you enter a small amount of text, usually in the options, that will be added to the bottom of every email you write. Example: your name, your email address, your phone.

Email etiquette does matter. Keep these guidelines in mind and you will enjoy many years of friendly and effective email correspondence.