Is it proper e-mail ettiquete to...

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
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Address the reader with a dear, hi, hello or how are you doing? How come no one does this anymore?
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: NaOH
Address the reader with a dear, hi, hello or how are you doing? How come no one does this anymore?

only if you are good friends or lovers.

my old boss hated it when i would address it "dear stud"
 

Tuktuk

Senior member
Jan 30, 2007
406
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I never use "Dear" anymore. It sounds like the start of a love note from 1763. "Dearest Eveline, thou hast the prettiest knockers I hath henceforthwith seeneth onst thy chestesses"

Especially in professional e-mails. Doesn't sound right.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
I tend to just use their name.


Jim,

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.Blah blah blah.Blah blah blah.Blah blah blah.


Pontifex


 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
10
81
i use:

Hi [name],

but only when it's the first email in the thread. typically, after there have been a number of responses i just start typing the body of email without a greeting.
 

TreyRandom

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
3,346
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Dear Jim,

I can't stand your inept, over-controlling style of management. You have got to be the...

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And that goes for your mother, too.

Love,
Trey
 

slikmunks

Diamond Member
Apr 18, 2001
3,490
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Originally posted by: InFeXiOn
Most of my emails are like:

"Name Here,

Body Here

Best Regards,
Paul"


ditto... sometimes i don't even put in a name, i just say hey
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,396
8,559
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yes, you may use dear. in fact, if it's a formal email you should use dear, and then either the person's first or last name (with a colon if its something very formal). then go into the body. remember to use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and paragraphs. then sign it with a yours truly.
 

Jawo

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
4,125
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Originally posted by: pontifex
I tend to just use their name.

Jim,

Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.Blah blah blah.Blah blah blah.Blah blah blah.

Pontifex

Thats what I do. When my boss sends out attachments its just the attachment.
 

Mucho

Guest
Oct 20, 2001
8,231
2
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To a single person its usually: Hi Jim,
To several people its usually: Hi there,
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
I only use a greeting if it's a formal sort of e-mail.

If it's someone I know, they'll recognize my address, or else their e-mail program will indicate who it is. "Hi" - I never really care for greetings anyway. The presence of the e-mail there should be greeting enough. Greetings are more of a formality to me. Though I guess they serve as a sort of, "Alert, I'm about to start talking, so start listening." If you just start talking to someone, it's like a TCP/IP packet without a header. The first packet will get dropped because the receiver wasn't ready. Then it's just something like, "Hey," but that's only if I'm talking, not e-mailing. The recipient opened the e-mail, so there's no need for the "header" part of the conversational TCP/IP packet, if you get my metaphor.

I love using metaphors like that. :D



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