[access-uk] Re: E-mail Guidance
- From: "Tink Watson" <tink@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 14:46:02 +0100
Sam,
Much of this comes down to personal taste, even the oldest of Internet
conventions have largely been superceded by people's own preferences.
For my part, I'd advise using plain text to send and receive email
messages, but I've outlined the pros and cons of both plain text and html
emails below.
Plain text emails are smaller to send and receive, because they don't
allow the inclusion of graphics or web page style formatting. For this
reason, they are more secure than HTML email messages, particularly when you
are on the receiving end of one, because there is no place to hide possible
email nasties.
HTML emails are slightly larger to send and receive, because the allow
for the inclusion of graphics and web page style formatting. It is possible
for malware or unwanted code to be triggered via an HTML email, particularly
if you are on the receiving, rather than sending end of things.
Another classic argument you'll come across with email, is whether to
top post, bottom post or integrate. Again, I've given a bit of an outline of
each below:
Top posting is what happens on most VI related lists. When replying to
an email, you hit the reply button and just begin typing at the top. We find
this easier because of the way our assistive technologies work.
Bottom posting used to be the convention on the Internet, particularly
in the days of UseNet, but it has now fallen by the wayside a little for all
but a hardy few. This involves hitting the reply button on an email and
typing your text in immediately under the person's original email text.
Integrating is a combination of the two. You customarily start typing at
the top of the email, but either cut and paste quotes of the original into
the main body of your text, or add your text at various points throughout
the original mail.
My personal rule of thumb is to top post, except where I think a brief
reminder of the original post might be useful to the reader, in which case
I'll cut and paste the relevant quote to a suitable point in my reply. Most
of the VI lists are fairly easy going on this, but I've come across some
newsgroups and mailing lists, where this is a sore topic of contention.
Ultimately, keep emails short, to the point, as friendly as possible.
Add in graphics if they are needed, but otherwise try to avoid doing so. Use
plain text, rather than HTML by convention and use top posting when
replying, except if a quote would be useful. At least, that's pretty much
the way I do it. *Smile.
Tink.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howie, Sam" <Sam.Howie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Access-Uk (E-mail)" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 2:21 PM
Subject: [access-uk] E-mail Guidance
Hi All
I have been asked by a colleague to give some advice in terms of writing
e-mail messages. Does anyone know of any guidance around about writing
e-mails in terms of size, best style of text to use what about if they
wanted to include pictures and so on.
Any advice will be appreciated
Cheers
Sam
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer:
This message is intended only for use of the addressee. If this message
was sent to you in error, please notify the sender and delete this message.
Glasgow City Council cannot accept responsibility for viruses, so please
scan attachments. Views expressed in this message do not necessarily reflect
those of the Council who will not necessarily be bound by its contents.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
Other related posts: