Some E-Mail Etiquette

Greetings again. I hope you’re doing well.

This week, an AuthorAID member requested a blog post on e-mail etiquette (polite behavior regarding e-mail). She especially wanted to know about following up when one doesn’t receive a reply.

As the sender indicated, norms in this regard might differ among countries. However, let me share some thoughts.

If an e-mail message requested a reply but one hasn’t arrived, following up is appropriate. The minimum time to wait can depend on the circumstances—for example, how soon the information is needed and how much access the recipient has to e-mail.

In following up, I try to be polite. For example, I might say the following: “About a week ago I sent an e-mail message asking _____. However, a reply hasn’t arrived. In case my message didn’t reach you, I’ve provided it again below. If you already sent a reply, I’d appreciate your re-sending it. In any case, I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you very much for your time.”

Also: As a sender, if I want a response, I try to mention that fact and note any time constraints. And as a recipient, I try to at least acknowledge within a day or two any e-mail that requests a response. If I can’t reply fully until later, I say so.

The AuthorAID blog posts “10 Tips for Writing Effective E-Mail” and “Writing Effective E-Mail” have noted some other aspects of e-mail etiquette. Also, a Google search using the term “e-mail etiquette” yields links to helpful materials.

Wishing you a good next few days— Barbara