The Dangerous World of E-mail

With the advent 0f e-mail and text messaging, the world of informal social chit-chat has made its way to the electronic word. This is all fine and dandy when communicating with friends, but can pose a problem when communicating in a professional environment (in example, college or the work place). There are a number of reasons, therefore, to use formal communication style when communicating with employers, professors, academic advisors, et cetera.

First, grammar, punctuation, and spelling all serve to clarify your message. Incorrect grammar, punctuation, and spelling may unintentionally change the meaning of your message or make it difficult to understand.

Second, don't be naive! Whether you like it or not, many employers and professors will formulate an opinion on your skills and education based on your grammar, punctuation, and spelling usage. Don't give them a reason to doubt your abilities.

So, use "lol" and "long runn on sentences w/0 punctuation spelln etc" all you like when e-mailing your friends, but I strongly encourage you to use formal communication style when e-mailing your employers, professors, and advisors. This means you should write your e-mail as you would write a paper for our English course.

When in doubt, proofread!