11 Unbreakable Email Etiquette Rules

Emoticon explosions. Fwd:Fwd:Fwds. Email is sacred and these are the top violations that result in awkward silence and dissolving friendships.

1. Emoticons Must Be Selected Carefully

Emoticons are great for emails to your cousin. Not everyone is your cousin.

2. Try To Keep The Font Size Less Than 24

We know that not everyone has great vision. But there's nothing less fun than getting an email on your mobile device where each sentence takes up the whole screen.

3. Exclamation! Points! Are! Not! Periods!

People use exclamation points these days to make semi-formal business emails sound more friendly. Using a couple is like smiling. But using a dozen is like manically laughing while running down the street in a clown costume.

4. All Caps Is Overwhelming

You don't always drive 90 miles per hour, so don't always use caps.

5. Incoherent Abbreviations Confuse Everyone

We're all a little rushed sometimes, but if you have time to send an email, you have time to explain what the hell you mean.

6. Too Short Of A Reply Is Insulting

A single word in response to a paragraph is impolite, and probably less helpful than total silence. Even if you have very little to say, at least try to communicate in full sentences.

7. Comic Sans Should Be Avoided, Always

Just don't use it.

8. Don't Trap Anyone Under An Email Avalanche

Sometimes you remember something you've forgotten to say RIGHT after you've sent an email. But 4 or 5 in less than a minute? Think before you send.

9. Walls Of Text Are Unclimbable

Please use line breaks. Please.

10. Gigantic Images Are No Fun

Modern cameras can take pictures that are thousands and thousands of pixels wide, but if you send them to your friends at that size, they're going to be scrolling for ages just to see what's going on.

11. Finish With A Strong Signature

Your email signature is the last thing someone sees after reading your words, and last impressions are just as strong as first impressions.