Emoticon and Email Ettiquette

Dear readers =)

I guess this is the first time of me using '=)' or smiley face in my post. Why am I using this? Let's find out!

Summary

In this article, it explains how online communication through emails can actually cause misunderstandings in a relationship. A person might interpret emails based on one's status which is really unfair. In order to avoid misunderstandings, American Scott Fahlman invented emoticon such as smiley face. Later on, Will Schwalbe (2007), a New York publisher emphasized that email is a symbol of respect between each other. He highlighted that email users should make use of emails and know the right way to write an email. You can either write a casual or a formal email depending on the purpose of the email and the receiver. Schwalbe (2007) also said that there's lot to learn from Generation Y as they know the proper etiquettes of using email.

(www.forrestwalter.com)

I am from the Generation Y and I personally think that emoticons are really important to express ourselves. Sometimes, words could not express everything. According to Shriver (1997, p. 367), the interpretation of message depends on a few factors such as the reader's mood, interest as well as cultural, social, physical and technology setting. For example, I will insert a smiley face when I ask my friend for a favour to show that I'm polite and nice. If my friend is in a bad mood and there's no emoticons, he or she might think that I'm demanding too much. However, if she sees a smiley face, she might even calm down and feel better.

Following are some tips on how to write a good email:

1) Write a readable email
- Beware of your spelling and capitalization. Do not use write everything in full caps as the email will sound offensive.

2) Proofread
- Read again before you send the email. Sometimes, there might be mistakes on the spelling and words.

3) Address yourself and others correctly.
- If it's a formal email, address the receiver in a professional way. If it's an informal email, you can be more friendly.

4) Show respect
- Be tolerant with the receiver or sender. Use BCC when you want to send email to a large group of people.

(Jerz 2000)

References

ABC.net.au 2007, Emoticons and email ettiquette (Online, accessed 7 June 2009).
URL: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2064342.htm#

Jerz, D. G. 2000, Writing Effective E-mail: Top 10 tips (Online, accessed 8 June 2009).
URL: http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-text/e-mail.htm

Shriver, K. A. 1997, Dynamics in document design: creating texts for readers, Wiley Computer Pub., New York.