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Email 101

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Email Etiquette and Safety

Using email in business

Whether you're using email at work or applying for a job, the normal rules of email etiquette still apply. However, there are a few additional considerations to keep in mind, as business emails can affect your professional reputation.

Click the arrows in the slideshow below to learn more about using email in the workplace.

  • Click the arrows to learn more about email etiquette and professional communication in the workplace.
  • When applying for a job, make sure that your email address isn’t too extreme or unprofessional. As in the example above, an address like party.dude826@yahoo.com could give others a bad impression.
  • While emails are less formal than written letters, using informal language can seem very unprofessional, as in the example above.
  • Using profanity in a workplace email is extremely unprofessional. In some cases, it might even result in disciplinary action.
  • Keep in mind that your company may read your email. As in the example above, you should never send anything derogatory or offensive about your coworkers or your workplace.
  • Make sure your email is addressed to the right people, especially when sending a reply. In the example above, the message criticizes the original sender while accidentally including him as a recipient.
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Remember, you should never use your work email account for personal communication. It's best to get your own personal account from a webmail service like Gmail, Yahoo!, or Outlook.com.

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