E-mail Etiquette: Lesson 07

Reference:
Miller, Samantha 2001. E-mail Etiquette: Do’s, Don’ts and Disaster Tales from People Magazine’s Internet Manners Expert. Warner Books.

I found this book (currently reading) to be quite revealing – learn a lot too. Some are applicable to any (online) writings – blogging included. It’s also in my self-interest to 'educate' people around me by sharing lil’ titbit like this– make life easier mah.

Do’s
1. KISS – Keep it short & simple.
Not an epic-length essay. We’re all busy people yeah?

2. Spell-check. Or better yet, learn to spell- it’s never too late.
Hahah, I know –we’re a whole bunch of lazy people. It’s just a click away anyway!

3. Articles/materials copies from web sites (or other sources) are considered fair use if: copying only a small part of the work; for the purposes of criticism, comment, reporting etc.; it’s mostly facts; has been published widely; you add a lot of new material to the work; not affecting the ability of the copyright owner to make money from the work, etc.
I'm guilty in previous life/ entries/emails - I guess ignorance isn't a bliss at all, it simply tells people that you're irresponsible (er, too harsh perhaps?).

On a related issue:
Plagiarism in campus: Refer to my previous entry on Action and its consequences.
1. Warning letter. Deadly for a scholarship student.
2. RM250 fine. Who determines how much plagiarism pay how much fine?
3. Cannot register for one semester. Delaying everything lor.

4. What is “bcc” and why is it a manners must?
Bcc: Put e-mail address of people who should receive “blind carbon copies’ but the “To (main recipients)” and “cc (secondary recipients something like 'Just FYI' & usually implies that you don’t expect him or her to reply)” recipients don’t see the “bcc” recipients addresses listed.
If only I knew this earlier.
Did you know that:
a. It’s impolite to make recipients page through a long list of addresses before they reach your message.
b. It’s very rude of you and a flagrant etiquette faux pas if you’re writing to people who don’t know one another.

Don’ts
1. Double-space after a period.
Why? This went out with the typewriter. (To my advisor: Dr, see I already told ya!)

2. Use too many exclamation points.

3. Use all capital letters for the body of the message. Net tradition dictates that all caps denotes shouting: PEOPLE!
Q: Wonder who decreed that writing in caps is like shouting? Well, I have no idea!
Why? Capital letters’ shapes are less distinctive than those of lowercase letters, make it more difficult for our brain to recognize words. Logical explanation, I can accept this.Solution: To emphasize a word: surround it with asterisks. Now *that’s* easier on the eardrums.

4. Over-emoticons. Irritating, for some. Juvenile. Unprofessional. Ridiculous too.
Solution: Use emoticons properly e.g. so that sarcasm cannot be mistaken for brusqueness.
Alternatives: Use asides or abbreviations (traditionally set off within pointy brackets) to indicate emotions or actions: or or LOL.
Or write out exactly what you’re trying to convey, like “I’m just being sarcastic”, “And I say this with a smile on my face” etc.

Futher information, read the book la.

P/s: Answer to your question:
Yes, I'm suppose to be busy with my research & writing. This is a 'break'.
No, I'm still getting to that point -dah nak termuntah- but what to do..