Gemma Cartwright writes...
I love it when fashion magazines tackle technology issues. Usually it's with a big dose of style, very little substance and a nice hint of condescension. This month's Vogue has a brilliant piece on email etiquette. And when I say 'brilliant', I mean 'I was close to poking my own eyes out to stop from having to read it.' Do we really need advice from a fashion mag on how to write proper emails?
Well, actually, judging by some of the emails I get on a daily basis (from fashion people, generally) perhaps we do. But this particular article takes it all a bit too far. Do we really need to be told that we shouldn't steal email addresses from mail accidentally sent without being BCC'd?
"Formality is still necessary when writing to someone for the first time by email," Is one of the gems we're treated to. "It is not appropriate to open the email with 'Hi' or end it with kisses or litter it with smiley faces." Oh yes, god forbid someone use the word 'Hi' to open an email. How dare they? I do agree on the smiley faces though, and the next bit, which claims "It must also be grammatically correct."
Indeed. Take note, people who still don't know the difference between your and you're. The odd punctuation error is fair enough, but a press release with 'there' instead of 'their' is going straight into the recycle bin.
"A thank-you letter by email is more informal than a written note." Explains Rita Konig in another part of the feature. I wonder how much she got paid to state that blindingly obvious fact? Apparently we should still be sending proper letters to godparents and distant relatives, and not emailing them. It's a nice thought, but what about getting on the phone and saving a tree? And how many of our relatives really care about how 'formal' we're being with them? My grandad loves getting emails and delights in responding in txt spk. I blame my teenage cousin.
Forgive me if I'm just too laid-back, but for me the whole appeal of email is that there are no strict 'rules'. I know how to write in a formal manner when I need to, but every bit of correspondence online doesn't need to be written like a covering letter. Konig does go on to say that after the first few emails you can then move on to 'hi' and kisses and so on, but why do we need to start out any different? I'm not suggesting we start sending out emails from work littered in leetspeak and smiley faces, but I love informal, to-the-point emails. Why do we need to begin emails 'dear' and finish them 'yours sincerely' (to be honest, when I get mail like that I'm a bit amazed the writer even has an email address). I for one like the friendly notes that start with 'hi'. I like it when I get so friendly with people through work that we start ending emails with a little 'x' (daaahhhling), and I love those silly one-liners that go back and forth between colleagues and friends when MSN is banned in the office...
Psssht. What do Vogue know, anyway?
Gemma Cartwright is Shiny Media's fashion editor and founder of Catwalk Queen. She's jealous that Vogue get better seats at Fashion Week than she does.
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I like emails that start with "Hi ___," (fill in name for the blank) but what I can't stand are ones that just start with the name, comma, and the rest of the email ... it feels like I'm being yelled at and told to go stand in the corner! Is it proper etiquette?
I'm with Oana, I hate 'name,' It just comes off as so rude and I get them all the time and it really irks me when they get my name wrong - it's in my email address, they could just copy it! I also dislike really informal emails from someone you've never met and txt spk.
Some people really do need to be told how to write an email though!
x
Oh Gemma my dear, we do sometimes forget that not everyone (well most fashion mags) haven't been online as long as we have.
We grew up learning what they call "internet etiquette" as the internet grew, and now they're jumping on board and seem to think there is this whole other world online. Which is true, especially for older people who still marvel at it all, and people who have been stuck in their own little worlds oblivious to everything until now.
I work with some people who still call our web developers, IT. And that really riles their bones. We have a IT department, and a Online one. But some print people just can't seem to grasp the fact that, the internet is something they should have jump on board with sooner. You really should see how one of our print Art Director's directed a web designer on how a banner ad should look. The outcome is not pretty!
wow, this is so true. I go to an all girls high school where it is required to have a laptop as a "learning tool" and yes all the instant messaging programs are blocked, and yes we use our outlook accounts to send emails back and forth, but when it comes time to email a more "formal" note to a teacher, adding "dear" or "sincerely" just doesnt cut it, it's too formal and yes like you said, does make it much less direct. I agree with you. Emailing "etiquette" shouldn't be about whether you put dear, sincerely, your's truly, etc, but it should revolve around whether you are conveying your message clearly, and respectfully, that's said for internet etiquette in general. It's also dissapointing to know that Vogue would feature this, as though all women..or men.. reading their articles are truly incompetent. oh well. Wonderful insight. ^_^ (improper email/comment etiquette?)