How to make email communication less stressful?

Assume that everyone you’re communicating with is smarter than you and cares more than you and is busier than you. – Merlin Mann

Victoria Turk, a senior editor at WIRED UK, provides a comprehensive guide to mastering email etiquette.

From choosing the appropriate greeting and sign-off to understanding the golden rule of ‘CC’, Turk’s practical advice aims to make email communication more efficient and less stressful.

Table of Contents

1. Reducing the burden of email
2. Appropriate greetings and sign-offs
3. The importance of brevity and clarity
4. Conveying emotional intent
5. Understanding the ‘CC’ rule
6. Appropriate use of ‘BCC’
7. Timing of sending emails
8. Setting norms and exhibiting good email etiquette
9. Subject lines matter
10. Importance of spreading good email etiquette
11. Respecting the recipient’s time
12. Not always being contactable

Reducing the burden of email

Emails can often be a source of stress, hence it’s crucial to make them as convenient and less burdensome as possible.

This can be achieved by keeping emails concise, clear, and to the point, thereby respecting the recipient’s time.

Appropriate greetings and sign-offs

In a professional setting, a simple ‘Hi’ followed by the recipient’s first name is an acceptable greeting.

For sign-offs, ‘Best wishes’ or ‘Best’ are appropriate.

Other sign-offs like ‘Thanks in advance’ can be perceived as presumptive.