The Art of Writing in the Age of E-Mail
Things to Consider Before You Hit "Send"
The art of writing, normally associated with quill pens and inkwells, is far from lost: it is simply altered, adapted to the new technologies available to the writers and communicators today. This adjustment, however, should not mean a decline in writing standards. After all, we are judged by the content and presentation of our message and not by the technical mode of its transmission.
If you have ever felt the unmistakable pang of regret after hitting the "Send" button, wishing you could somehow summon back the offensive missive, you may want to consider the following tips for successful e-mails:
In the Mood
Never, ever, send an e-mail in irritation or anger. Easier said than done, for sure, but it is well worth the effort, and the long-term benefits, you will find, are immense. Even if you are not angry, you may inadvertently create the impression of anger or curtness because it is the very nature of e-mailing that functions as a breeding ground for miscommunication. Think about it: E-mailing is expected to be fast, concise, and to the point. Abbreviations thrive. Acronyms (AFAIC, BRB, IMHO, HTH, etc., etc.) abound. Grammatical contractions flourish. Try not to sacrifice courtesy to brevity. Remember: Short is not always sweet. Set a courteous tone and stick with it.
The Dry Bones of Grammar
Fear not: You don't have to be a grammar guru, thriving on obscure linguistic terminology. You do, however, need to have a grasp of the basic rules that govern sentence structure and punctuation. The bones of grammar may be dry, but they hold together the flesh of language usage, and that flesh is very much alive. See grammar rules as the means to more effective communication. Visit your local library and look up grammar and style guides. Teach yourself the secrets of eloquent and lucid prose. Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style" is a great place to start and a fun read too!
Presentation, Presentation, Presentation
Nothing puts off a reader more than a piece of writing plagued with spelling errors. Don't kid yourself: No one will remember the content of your communication (however innovative or brilliant) if you can't spell. Use your spell-checker. Always. And then proof-read. There is no substitute for good, old-fashioned proof-reading. Spell-checkers cannot and do not alert you to errors involving homonyms, i.e. words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have widely different meanings. Do not confuse to, too, and two; who's and whose; there, they're, and their; its and it's; sent, scent, and cent. And so on and so forth. Keep a dictionary close at hand and make a habit of using it. It may smack of drudgery at first, but it will get easier with practice. Promise.
Published by Branwen66
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam invenii nisi in angulo cum libro. (Thomas à Kempis) View profile
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- Never, ever, send an e-mail in irritation or anger.
- Teach yourself the secrets of eloquent and lucid prose.
- There is no substitute for good, old-fashioned proof-reading.
14 Comments
Post a CommentI still love the old fashioned pen and paper writing!! :) Outstanding article as usual!
Very good read!
People writer more now that e-mail has made it easier. I do miss real letters though.... Great article.
Very good advice. There was something special about written letters, and I feel letter writing is a lost art. Thanks for the reminders of what to do, and not to do, with email!
Good advice esp. about not writing when angry. Another solution is to not put an address on email until after it is written and edited, removing the risk of accidental sending while also maximizing opportunity to undo any inappropriate venting.
So true, it drives me crazy to see all of the misspellings and poor writing that abounds in the majority of email! Good article.
I use to make friends via the mail. I had a few really close pen pals. Yet, I never could get enough letters from them. Now that we all have computer and email accounts it is so much easier to keep up on our daily events and we can even write daily, if we have the time. I love it.
I love writing, and still do. Email is so quick and easy, but there is still a nice feeling when you take the time to write an actual letter.
U R So Rite! (One of my own pet peeves is simply that. I can't stand all those inane abbreviations, as if ISPs charged users by the letter!)
;-)