If you're thinking about writing...
This is the most dangerous post I've ever written. Why? Because I'm about to tell you things that absolutely drive me insane. Mostly, it involves email etiquette and writing style.
First off, I am not your manager. Do not write to me in business slang. Example: My schedule won't support that activity.
Replace with: I'm busy.
Example: In addition to providing visibility and access to our organization and key business areas, the site includes several new communication tools designed to inform, enable, and engage employees.
Replace with: We made a new site. Its pretty cool... check it out.
Second, make sure you don't overdo your punctuation. A single exclamation point can usually convey how excited you are. I don't need a string of 10 exclamation points to know it.
Example: We're going to lunch at Cucina Cucina!! You're totally invited!!!!! It's going to be super yummy!!!!!!!!
Replace with: You want to go to lunch at Cucina Cucina?
Third, people who reply-to-all... watch yourself. I don't mind getting 3 or 4 emails sent to me unnecessarily... but sometimes it can get crazy. I'm just asking you to be a little more mindful when using <ctrl>-<shift>-r (yes, that's the hotkey combination for reply-to-all).
The fourth way to drive me insane: be the second or third person who replies-to-all to say: "quit replying-to-all."
Those are the big ones. I know I'm going to get about 1000 emails tomorrow with all 4 of these annoyances in them... but whatever. I feel better after getting that off my chest.
Side note:
Seattle Mind Camp 3.0 is on! I already bought my ticket. You in?
First off, I am not your manager. Do not write to me in business slang. Example: My schedule won't support that activity.
Replace with: I'm busy.
Example: In addition to providing visibility and access to our organization and key business areas, the site includes several new communication tools designed to inform, enable, and engage employees.
Replace with: We made a new site. Its pretty cool... check it out.
Second, make sure you don't overdo your punctuation. A single exclamation point can usually convey how excited you are. I don't need a string of 10 exclamation points to know it.
Example: We're going to lunch at Cucina Cucina!! You're totally invited!!!!! It's going to be super yummy!!!!!!!!
Replace with: You want to go to lunch at Cucina Cucina?
Third, people who reply-to-all... watch yourself. I don't mind getting 3 or 4 emails sent to me unnecessarily... but sometimes it can get crazy. I'm just asking you to be a little more mindful when using <ctrl>-<shift>-r (yes, that's the hotkey combination for reply-to-all).
The fourth way to drive me insane: be the second or third person who replies-to-all to say: "quit replying-to-all."
Those are the big ones. I know I'm going to get about 1000 emails tomorrow with all 4 of these annoyances in them... but whatever. I feel better after getting that off my chest.
Side note:
Seattle Mind Camp 3.0 is on! I already bought my ticket. You in?
10 Comments
i hope your schedule allows us to go to bumbershoot this weekend, because i think it'd be quite entertaining to say the least!!!!
Example: X isn't working correctly.
Replace with: Can you help me get X working? or
What is required to get X to work correctly?
And I hate emails with high priority. I always ignore these and most of the time the sender doesn't get back to me at all. People tend to overrate their importance.
I hate emails with large attachments too. Those 10MB PDF's that are full of graphics just to convey a 2 sentence content that could have been written in a text format email. Or those idiots that attach 1280x1024 screenshots in bitmap format to demeonstrate that a button text has a typo.
Last but not least I hate emails that have somany typpoes tht it is allmosed imbossiple to getthe messag.
And the very last thing: stop adding signatures with more than 10 lines. NOBODY READS THAT CRAP! BTW, I also hate it when people write all capital letters.
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