E-mail Etiquette

Long ago, before there were telephones, a woman traveling overseas cabled her husband for permission to buy jewelry. Her husband responded: NO. COST TOO GREAT.

However, technology then was less than perfect. So instead, the woman received this message: NO COST TOO GREAT.

Today, most of us use e-mail for messages. But although technology has advanced beyond cables, small details still affect the way the recipient sees and interprets a message--sometimes to your detriment.

Using e-mail effectively and professionally is essential to your business success. Here are some tips to get the most from your e-mail.

This article was originally published in the September 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: E-mail Etiquette.