DEFINITION: Using technology effectively to communicate with others both personally and professionally with knowledge, understanding and courtesy.

The Basic Rules of Netiquette:
DO NOT TYPE IN ALL CAPS. It is the email equivalent to shouting and is more difficult to read.

Refrain from formatting your email with colored text and background colors or images in your day-to-day communications.

Not all email programs support advanced colors, graphics and background stationery.

On those rare occasions where it is necessary to send a group of people the very same email, as a courtesy to those you are sending to, please list all of the recipients email addresses in the BCC field. Just as it is not polite to give out a person’s telephone number without his or her knowledge, it is not polite to give out someone’s e-mail address. For instance, when you send an e-mail message to 30 people and use To or CC to address the message, all 30 people see each other’s e-mail address. By using BCC, each recipient sees only two–theirs and yours.

Never give out phone numbers or personal information without confirming you are communicating with a reputable party.

Be cautious when using sarcasm and humor. Without facial expressions and tone of voice, they do not translate easily through email.

Always spell check your email, proofread for errors, capitalize your sentences and use appropriate punctuation and grammar.

Always end your emails with “Thank you,” “Sincerely,” “Take it easy,” “Best regards” – something and be sure to include your name!

Don’t be a novelist. Messages should be concise and to the point. Think of it as a voice mail message, except you are typing instead of speaking. It is also important to remember that some people receive hundreds of e-mail messages a day, so being respectful of their time is important.

Clearly summarize the contents of your message in the subject line. Properly titled messages help people organize and prioritize their e-mail.

Don’t write anything you wouldn’t say in public. Anyone can easily forward your message, even when done accidentally. This could leave you in an embarrassing position if you divulge personal or confidential information. If you don’t want to potentially share something you write, consider using the telephone.

You are what you write. How you communicate will be an indication as to the kind of person you are. Learn to write with clarity and take people at their word – not what you “think” they mean.

Sources: www.iwillfollow.com, www.learnthenet.com, www.getnetiquette.com, www.monster.com