Why Is This Important?

Much of our communication now happens online. In order to maintain a professional image, you need to use the appropriate communication channel and the appropriate message structure for the material you want to communicate. It is important to practice these skills during college so that you can communicate effectively when you enter the workforce.

Online Communication

Text messaging, emailing, and posting on social media in a professional context requires that you are familiar with proper etiquette for using the internet. The way that you represent yourself in writing carries significant weight. Writing in an online environment requires tact, skill, and an awareness that what you write may be there for a very long time and may be seen by people you never considered as your intended audience. From text messages to memos to letters, from business proposals to press releases, your written communication represents you. Your goal should be to make your online communication clear, concise, constructive, and professional.

We create personal pages, post messages, and interact via online technologies as a normal part of our life, but how we conduct ourselves can leave a lasting image, literally. The photograph you posted on your Instagram profile or Twitter feed may have been seen by your potential employer, or that insensitive remark in a Facebook post may come back to haunt you later.

Texting

Whatever digital device you use, written communication in the form of brief messages, or texting, has become a common way to connect. This is particularly true with platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, which are becoming increasingly popular with organizations as a means for people to quickly communicate with each other.

On these platforms, short exchanges are common as they are a convenient way to stay connected with others when talking on the phone or sending an email would be cumbersome. If you need a quick, brief answer right away, texting is often the best choice.

However, it’s also important to be mindful of the organization’s culture and what is deemed “appropriate” on these texting platforms. For example, when people text their friends and family, they often send GIFs as a way to communicate their reactions. Should you also do this at your college or company? Pay attention to how others are communicating in these spaces and use that as a guide for your own communication style.

Texting is not useful for long or complicated messages. When deciding whether a text or email is better, careful consideration should be given to the audience. Wouldn’t it seem strange if someone sent you a text that was like an email? When texting, always consider your audience, and choose words, terms, or abbreviations that will deliver your message appropriately and effectively.

Emailing

Email is familiar to most students and workers. Email can be very useful for messages that have slightly more content than a text message, but it is still best used for fairly brief messages. When writing emails in a college setting, use a professional and formal voice. Emails require a high attention to detail because your email reflects who you are as a student. Although email may have an informal feel, remember that when used in college, it needs to convey professionalism and respect. Never write or send anything that you wouldn’t want read in public or in front of your instructor or program manager.

Tips for Writing Effective Emails

As with all writing, professional communications require attention to the specific writing context. The receiver expects to receive an email with certain formatting, including correct use of grammar and spelling conventions. It is important to take note of each of the following details each and every time you write emails to instructors and students.

Subject Line

This helps the recipient understand the essence of the message. The recipient will choose to open the email based on the subject line. The subject line should be specific and give information on what the email is about. For example, “Absent from COMM 1173 on May 3rd” or “Question about Presentation Assignment, COMM 1173”

Opening Greeting

A proper greeting demonstrates respect and avoids mix-ups in case a message is accidentally sent to the wrong recipient. In the Canadian college setting, instructors and students are generally referred to by their first names. For example, use an opening like “Hello Sarah” (for an instructor) or “Hi Barry” (for a student). When sending emails within college, avoid using formal titles such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. Never use the title Mrs. as you should not assume a woman is married.

Body of Your Message

State your purpose for writing directly at the beginning of your email to provide context for your message. Reference any included attachments as well, so that readers are aware of the additional content and its purpose. State the name of the file, along with the type of document and program needed to open it. For example, “Please see the attached Word document of my report, The Economic Climate of Russia.” In the case of an included question, cut and paste any relevant text (for example, computer error messages, assignment prompts, or segments of a previous message) into the email so that the reader has a frame of reference from which to answer. When replying to someone else’s email, it may be helpful to either include or restate the sender’s message.

Use paragraphs to separate thoughts (or consider writing separate emails if you have many unrelated points or questions), and state the desired outcome at the end of your message. When requesting a response, let the reader know what type of response you require, such as an email reply, possible meeting times, or a recommendation letter. If you request something that has a due date, be sure to place the due date in a prominent position in your email. End your email with the upcoming action item that will help the recipient understand what tasks they need to complete. For example, you might write “I will follow this email up with a phone call this week” or “Let’s discuss this further at the Wednesday meeting.”

Closing

Close with a simple sign-off such as “Thanks,” or “Thank you.” Avoid being overly formal with sign-offs such as “Yours truly” or “With Sincerest Regards.”

After the closing sign-off, include a signature. Identify yourself by creating a signature block that automatically contains your name and email. Do not include your student number in your signature.

Sample Email

Attribution Statement: Adapted from Technical Writing Essentials by Suzan Last, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, and Effective Professional Communication: A Rhetorical Approach by Rebekah Bennetch; Corey Owen; and Zachary Keesey, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.