In our last post we dealt with getting a handle on the dozens of e-mail messages we receive every day. One of the ways we can help others from drowning in e-mails, is to think before we reply. With that in mind, here are some ideas on e-mail etiquette because no one likes “send remorse.”

• Think before you forward. No one likes the person who forwards every joke, funny photo, chain letter or (probably false) warning. If it’s pertinent to business, pass it on. If it’s a joke you know a specific co-worker would enjoy, share it with that person and not the entire office.
• Have an e-mail buddy. Occasionally, we receive an e-mail that gets us fired up. Rather than hammering out a response you might regret and sending it immediately, first send it to your e-mail buddy who will read it objectively and let you know if you’ve reacted too strongly.
• Be your own editor. Technology sometimes makes us sloppy in our business communication. Especially if you are e-mailing your supervisor, a client or potential customer, take a few seconds to reread your message and look for any typos, misspellings, or grammatical errors.
• Keep it to yourself. One of the benefits of e-mail is you can send the same message to several people at once, maximizing efficiency. But only reply to everyone when necessary. If you have a specific question or comment for the sender, reply only to him or her.
• Watch using all capital letters or unnecessary punctuation, which could convey a tone you didn’t mean to convey (i.e. using all caps means you’re yelling or angry).
• Do you best to respond within 24 hours to an e-mail at least letting the sender know you received it and will provide a more detailed response as soon as you can.
• Watch your follow ups. If you don’t get a response to your e-mail within a few days, send a follow up. If you still don’t get a response, either call the person or let it go. Many people appreciate a follow-up e-mail because they see it as a reminder. But too many follow ups become annoying.

What are your tips for e-mail etiquette? What annoys you most about e-mail?