I'd just like to add one thing to what Tink has already said. Please please
"spell-check"!
I really hate receiving those mails where the sender couldn't be bothered to
carry out such a simple function. And it also makes reading e-mails that
little bit easier.
Darran
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Much of this comes down to personal taste, even the oldest of Internet conventions have largely been superceded by people's own preferences.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
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