Dress Etiquette: What to Wear

Dress & Etiquette
How to dress appropriately and proper etiquette for meals, etc.
What is Business Casual
This page will explain what business casual is for men and women.
Executive Wardrobe Tips
These tips will help you look like an executive for interviews and other events.
Business Attire Do's & Don'ts
These dos & don'ts will help to keep you from making a mistake for interviews, informational
meetings, career fairs, etc.
Guidelines for Attire at Receptions, Presentations and Information Sessions
Simple guidelines to help you figure out what is appropriate and what isn't. Telephone Etiquette 101
Simple telephone etiquette to help you dazzle those recruiters over the phone.
Dinner Etiquette
This page not only gives you information on which fork to use, but also comes packed with images so you can picture what is written.
Rules for Business Dining
These tips will hopefully help you land that ideal job, or big contract, with a few small maneuvers at lunch. Business Etiquette & Professional Presence
This presentation goes over the basics of business etiquette.



Dress Etiquette


From corporate meetings to weddings, knowing how to dress appropriately can be quite a challenge. We understand the phrases “Casual Friday”, “Business Attire”, and “Dress Code in Effect”; however, when it comes to choosing an outfit for a special occasion not qualified by the above list, there are many variables to take into consideration when choosing the perfect outfit. You must take ownership of the challenge by using the clues you are given on the invitation, by the hostess, or by the nature of the event.
Clue Number One: the wording on the invitation. According to www.ashtonweddinginvitations.com, “it is not acceptable to put appropriate attire instructions on the invitation to the ceremony”; however, sometimes a hostess will go against this advice and indicate a dress code on her invitation.
Deciphering the notation at the bottom of the invitation takes some thought. “Black Tie” literally refers to the dress for the males in attendance, so what is a girl to do? Check out: www.drdaveanddee.com. This site defines several of the modern dress codes often found on invitations. “Cocktail”, for example, calls for “an elegant-looking dress in any colour, but no formal gowns”. “White Tie” affairs “are the most formal of all functions”. A woman should wear a long, formal dress, while her male companion should be in “Full Dress, which means a black tailcoat, black pants, and a shirt, tie and vest which are all white”.
This site has some good advice, but it also has some that is particularly too little, too late: “If the bride’s dress has a train...the wedding is formal.” When in doubt, ask someone directly involved in the event. And always remember this good advice found at http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/wedding/: a wedding is “a gathering of witnesses to the uniting of a couple in the eyes of their creator”. If you can see through your outfit, it should remain in your closet.
Clue Number Two: note the time of year, time of day, and location indicated on the invitation. A beach or outdoor wedding location means that you must also take the elements into consideration. A “brunch” reception or “afternoon tea” calls for an outfit that is quite different from a “cocktail reception”. If you long for some nostalgic, old fashioned advice, log on to: www.bartleby.com which offers the full text of Emily Post’s Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home. Keep in mind that this was written in 1922. You will invariably find yourself chuckling at some of the advice. The advice Post offers on how to wear one’s hair at a ball is very amusing.
She believed that women should wear their hair “done” every day, so it is not necessary to get it “done” for a special occasion, noting that “the only time [your hair] is arranged differently is for riding." Later on she redeems herself with advice on tiaras.
Clue Number Three: people are pointing and laughing at you. Unfortunately, it is too late to change. To simplify all the guesswork in advance, here is a short Dictionary for Dressing. This list offers a brief description of what one typically wears to certain events.
WHITE TIE: long, formal dress, jewels
BALL: long sleeveless gown, tiara optional
BLACK TIE: long dress, sleeves optional, minimal elegant jewelry (i.e.:pearls)
FORMAL: similar to black tie (a.k.a: Black Tie Optional)
EVENING: elegant dress (tea or street length) or pant suit
COCKTAIL: elegant-looking dress in any colour, not floor length
GARDEN: element-appropriate dress, more casual, hosiery optional
BRUNCH: skirt and blouse/twin-set
TEA: skirt and blouse
Written By: Tracey Lord
More on Style
Sunglasses: What's the difference between a $30 and a $300 pair?Lingerie: Get the right fitFabulous martini recipes
W articles
10 Best - Looks for Fall 2006
How to Stay Warm
Layering for Fall
Spring Fashion 2007
Summer Style: What to Wear
W Shows
Style By Jury
The Shopping Bags
The Smart Woman Survival Guide

Top 10 list of SMS etiquetteText messaging is one of the simplest and most useful means of mobile communication. No one can doubt the popularity of text messaging and short messaging service (SMS) in particular - more than 50 billion SMS messages were sent across the world's GSM networks in the first quarter of 2001, a fivefold increase over the previous year - and there's no slowdown in sight.
ESPOO, Finland, June 29 -- A text messaging (and mobile phone use in general) grows in popularity, excitement over using new technology clashes head-on with common courtesy, not surprisingly giving rise to a mobile-phone manners backlash. So to help you avoid SMS miscues and text-message missteps, TheFeature.com composed a top 10 list of texting guidelines.
Common courtesy still rules. Contrary to popular belief, composing an SMS while you're in a face-to-face conversation with someone is just about as rude as taking a voice call.
Remember that SMS is informal. SMS shouldn't be used for formal invitations or to dump your girlfriend or boyfriend. The casualness of SMS diminishes the strength and meaning of the message.
Don't get upset if you don't get a reply. Before you text someone and get frustrated at the lack of a response, be sure that they're familiar with how to use the service, and that their carrier will accept messages from yours.
Be aware of your tone. It is extremely difficult to discern tone in text messages, just as in e-mail. What seems to you to be a completely innocuous message may be grossly misinterpreted by the recipient, causing certain discomfort if not irreparable harm.
Don't SMS while you're driving. Talking on the phone is bad enough. You won't know what hit you - or what you hit - if you are pounding out a message on your keyboard.
Leave the slang to the kids. Don't expect your stodgy superiors at work to be hip to the lingo of the SMS streets. And don't expect to win points with your kids by trying to be cool, either.
Remember that SMS can be traced. Anonymous messages - if you must send them -are still best sent from Web sites.
Be conscientious of others' schedules. Don't assume that because you are awake, working, not busy, or sober that the person you're texting is as well. Many a pleasant slumber have been interrupted by recurring "beep-beep...beep-beeps" of messages.
If it's immediate, make a voice call. If you can't get through and your text message is ignored, there's probably a good reason. There are still some times when people don't even have a thumb free to respond.
Remember that your phone does have an off button. There are very, very few things in the world that absolutely cannot wait.


How to Use Proper Text Message Etiquette
By Kelly185
The text message is a widely popular communications method of our generation. Anyone with a cell phone can participate in text messaging and many mobile carriers include texts in their wireless plans. Not only are texts convenient, they are downright fun! However, to avoid annoying friends, coworkers, or family members, it's wise to heed proper text messaging etiquette.

Step1One of the most important rules in text messaging etiquette is keeping your phone on vibrate when at work or in a quiet public place such as a movie theater. Nothing is more annoying than the perpetual texter who doesn't silence there phone. No one wants to hear your text beep every five minutes.
Step2Text messaging can be a great means to keep in touch with importants in your life while at work or school, but keep it to a minimum. Your boss, professor, or teacher don't appreciate you punching out digital messages when you have other duties to fulfill.
Step3Keep them short and sweet. If you need to write someone an in-depth message, send an email. Otherwise, give them a ring or see them in person. Long texts can be confusing or tough to respond to.
Step4Text messages can be a viable means of communication. If you know a friend is at work or in a meeting, being courteous and sending a text such as "Can you call me when you get the chance?" is a great alternative to calling their phone directly.
Step5Use fun graphics, but don't be a "smiley freak." There is nothing quite like getting a wink or kiss from a partner or spouse via text message, as this encourages flirtation and fun. But, reserve smiley's for a few text messages to keep your messages special.
Step6Consider your wireless plan costs. If upgrading to a different mobile plan includes unlimited texts and you're an avid textaholic, this may be worth the extra cost.
Ads by Google
MIR3Business Operations to Emergencies Trust MIR3 for ALL Notificationsmir3.com
Restaurant TEXT MarketingSend specials to your customer via sms text message. CIick here to seeInazip.com
Need Fine Stationery?Shop Crane & Co's Huge Selection Fine letterhead, notes, cardsCrane.com
Text Message Greetings1000's of Free Ecards & Greetings. Download, Customize & Print - Free!TextMessageGreetings.coml.biz
Tips & Warnings
Don't text someone in the middle of the night, unless you know them well. A text can ring just as loudly as calling the person.
Never send chain texts. Just like forwarded emails and chain letters annoy email recipients, chain texts do the same.

Cell Phone Etiquette

By Joanna L. Krotz
I'm a New Yorker — born, bred and proud of it. So when I say it's time to dial down on all this rude and infernal yakking on mobile phones, you'll understand that it comes with a high tolerance for urban chatter and in-your-face attitude.
Loutish cell use is out of control. Mobile phones now ring at weddings and funerals, job interviews and surgical procedures. No event is immune.
During Broadway shows, it's not uncommon to hear the unmistakable ring tones of, say, the William Tell Overture going off. It got so bad a while back that the New York City Council actually had to pass a law, banning cell phone use during live performances and in museums. Violators risk a $50 fine. But, of course, that was just symbolic. Who could afford the time and resources to actually enforce it?
Everywhere I go, from avenues to airports, from elevators to the bank, from conference
rooms to restaurants, mobile addicts are blurting out steady streams of shocking and confidential revelations. Who needs to know all the intimate and creepy things we're now forced to overhear?
Mobile madness
Boorish cell use isn't limited to social venues, either. It's corrupting the most basic of business courtesies. Every executive has a "Can you beat this?" cell story. But Mary Westheimer, founder of Bookzone.com, offers one totally over the top. At a Publishers Marketing Association conference, a panel member was presenting his part of the event. "His cell phone rang and he stopped his presentation and answered his phone!"
"People are defining new rules and new behavior for what's personal and what's private," says Robbie Blinkoff, principal anthropologist at Context-Based Research Group, a Baltimore marketer that relies on ethnographic fieldwork for insights into consumer behavior. "Technological change leads
to social change, but there's always a lag," he says.
Maybe. But manners aren't improving with increased use. About 72% of Americans agree that users' worst cell phone habit is having loud conversations in public, according to a recent national poll by market research group Synovate. Almost seven out of 10 (68%) said they observe poor cell phone etiquette at least once every day.
"I suspect the functionality and ease-of-use of these devices lead us to become lazy and to
lose awareness of ourselves, others and our surroundings," said Steve Levine at Synovate, when the study was released.
Cell phones aren't the issue
Let me be clear. I think mobile phones rank up there with the invention of the steam engine and ice cream. As we all know too well, mobiles can be critical in keeping us safe and connected. Technology and its myriad benefits are not the issue. People are.
Gartner Group predicts that one billion mobile phones will be sold worldwide in the year 2009. The decibel level is rising. So are transgressions and intrusions — and car accidents. At any given time, about 3% of people driving are simultaneously talking on their mobiles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which translates into millions of distracted drivers. Unnecessary mobile talk is increasingly fatal, even when carried on hands-free, according to the latest studies.
Perhaps it's time to turn serious about mobile manners.
Send a message
Technology and manners are compatible. For example, most Web users are up-to-speed on e-mail etiquette, even Gen Y teens, the poster kids for iPod culture. Wireless users must evolve. Sure, there are a handful of folks who must take calls no matter where, no matter what — say, heads of state or expectant fathers. But virtually everyone can turn on the vibrate option, depend on voice-mail messages or head for a secluded area before pressing "send."
If, as anthropologist Blinkoff promises, the mobile lifestyle is creating "a phantom sense of proximity," then we must hew to new dos and don'ts. Here's my 10-point plan.
1. Never take a personal mobile call during a business meeting. This includes interviews and meetings with co-workers or subordinates.
2. Maintain at least a 10-foot zone from anyone while talking.
3. Never talk in elevators, libraries, museums, restaurants, cemeteries, theaters, dentist or doctor waiting rooms, places of worship, auditoriums or other enclosed public spaces, such as hospital emergency rooms or buses. And don't have any emotional conversations in public — ever.
4. Don't use loud and annoying ring tones that destroy concentration and eardrums. Grow up!
5. Never "multi-task" by making calls while shopping, banking, waiting in line or conducting other personal business.
1. Keep all cellular congress brief and to the point.
2. Use an earpiece in high-traffic or noisy locations. That lets you hear the amplification, or how loud you sound at the other end, so you can modulate your voice.
3. Tell callers when you're talking on a mobile, so they can anticipate distractions or disconnections.
4. Demand "quiet zones" and "phone-free areas" at work and in public venues, like the quiet cars on the Amtrak Metroliner.
5. Inform everyone in your mobile address book that you've just adopted the new rules for mobile manners. Ask them to do likewise. Please.


The Ten Commandments of cell phone etiquette By Dan Briody
Cell phone etiquette
12 Unwritten Rules of Cell Phone Etiquette Digital Media Wire
Cell phone etiquette

Phone Etiquette
Calling On the Phone
Courtesy is as important in speaking over the phone as in talking to people face to face. Phone calls generally should not be made before 7:00 in the morning or after 9:30/10:00 at night. Try to avoid mealtimes.
A person should always be certain of the number he is dialing to avoid disturbing someone unnecessarily. If you do reach a wrong number, it is important to say "I'm sorry, I dialed the wrong number." before hanging up.
After someone answers the phone, the caller should give his or her name before asking for the person desired.
When you talk on the telephone, remember:
your voice quality
express yourself clearly and concisely
The person at the other end of the phone cannot see your facial expressions or gestures and the impression he receives depends on what she hears. The telephone carries your voice at its natural volume and pitch. Try not to shout but speak clearly and distinctly.
Answering The Phone

The correct way to answer a telephone is "Hello." "Yes" is abrupt and a bit harsh, but "This is the Doe's house" is a bit vague and "Mrs. Doe speaking" is. . . . well, let's just put it this way, "Hello" is the most proper way to answer the telephone.
When the telephone in the home is answered by someone other than the head of the house and someone says, "May I speak to Mrs. Brown, please?" he or she should say, "Just a moment, please." If Mrs. Brown is unable to come to the phone, the correct reply is "Mrs. Brown can't come to the phone now. May I have your name, and she will call you back as soon as possible?"
If you must put the telephone down during the conversation, do it gently, and when you hang up, do it gently. DO NOT SLAM THE RECEIVER DOWN. The person at the other end may still have the phone close to his ear, and then a sudden sharp bang can be hurtful as well as rude.
Common Telephone Courtesy Hints
(1) Make sure of the correct number so as not to risk disturbing strangers.
(2) Make sure that your conversations with busy people are as brief as possible.
(3) When calling friends who do not recognize your voice, announce yourself right away.
(4) Time your calls so as not to interfere with the work schedule of those you call.
(5) Make business calls well before the close of the office hours.
(6) After dialing a wrong number simply say, "Sorry, wrong number."
(7) When the number you are calling is not answered quickly, wait long enough for someone to put aside what he or she is doing. It is very annoying to have been disturbed just to pick up the telephone and find the caller has hung up.
Go Back to the Past Etiquette Main Page
History of Etiquette
Dating Etiquette
Etiquette for the Phone
Driving Etiquette
Telephone Etiquette 101 - Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of ...

Why do you need email etiquette?
A company needs to implement etiquette rules for the following three reasons:
Professionalism: by using proper email language your company will convey a professional image. Efficiency: emails that get to the point are much more effective than poorly worded emails. Protection from liability: employee awareness of email risks will protect your company from costly law suits.
Top
What are the etiquette rules?
There are many etiquette guides and many different etiquette rules. Some rules will differ according to the nature of your business and the corporate culture. Below we list what we consider as the 32 most important email etiquette rules that apply to nearly all companies.
32 most important email etiquette tips:
1. Be concise and to the point2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation4. Make it personal5. Use templates for frequently used responses6. Answer swiftly7. Do not attach unnecessary files8. Use proper structure & layout9. Do not overuse the high priority option10. Do not write in CAPITALS11. Don't leave out the message thread12. Add disclaimers to your emails13. Read the email before you send it14. Do not overuse Reply to All15. Mailings > use the bcc: field or do a mail merge16. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons17. Be careful with formatting18. Take care with rich text and HTML messages19. Do not forward chain letters20. Do not request delivery and read receipts21. Do not ask to recall a message.22. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission23. Do not use email to discuss confidential information24. Use a meaningful subject25. Use active instead of passive26. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT27. Avoid long sentences28. Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks29. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters30. Keep your language gender neutral31. Don't reply to spam32. Use cc: field sparingly
1. Be concise and to the point.
Do not make an e-mail longer than it needs to be. Remember that reading an e-mail is harder than reading printed communications and a long e-mail can be very discouraging to read.
Top
2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions.
An email reply must answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions – If you do not answer all the questions in the original email, you will receive further e-mails regarding the unanswered questions, which will not only waste your time and your customer’s time but also cause considerable frustration. Moreover, if you are able to pre-empt relevant questions, your customer will be grateful and impressed with your efficient and thoughtful customer service. Imagine for instance that a customer sends you an email asking which credit cards you accept. Instead of just listing the credit card types, you can guess that their next question will be about how they can order, so you also include some order information and a URL to your order page. Customers will definitely appreciate this.
Top
3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation.
This is not only important because improper spelling, grammar and punctuation give a bad impression of your company, it is also important for conveying the message properly. E-mails with no full stops or commas are difficult to read and can sometimes even change the meaning of the text. And, if your program has a spell checking option, why not use it?
Top
4. Make it personal.
Not only should the e-mail be personally addressed, it should also include personal i.e. customized content. For this reason auto replies are usually not very effective. However, templates can be used effectively in this way, see next tip.
Top
5. Use templates for frequently used responses.
Some questions you get over and over again, such as directions to your office or how to subscribe to your newsletter. Save these texts as response templates and paste these into your message when you need them. You can save your templates in a Word document, or use pre-formatted emails. Even better is a tool such as ReplyMate for Outlook (allows you to use 10 templates for free).
Top
6. Answer swiftly.
Customers send an e-mail because they wish to receive a quick response. If they did not want a quick response they would send a letter or a fax. Therefore, each e-mail should be replied to within at least 24 hours, and preferably within the same working day. If the email is complicated, just send an email back saying that you have received it and that you will get back to them. This will put the customer's mind at rest and usually customers will then be very patient!
Top
7. Do not attach unnecessary files.
By sending large attachments you can annoy customers and even bring down their e-mail system. Wherever possible try to compress attachments and only send attachments when they are productive. Moreover, you need to have a good virus scanner in place since your customers will not be very happy if you send them documents full of viruses!
Top
8. Use proper structure & layout.
Since reading from a screen is more difficult than reading from paper, the structure and lay out is very important for e-mail messages. Use short paragraphs and blank lines between each paragraph. When making points, number them or mark each point as separate to keep the overview.
Top
9. Do not overuse the high priority option.
We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf. If you overuse the high priority option, it will lose its function when you really need it. Moreover, even if a mail has high priority, your message will come across as slightly aggressive if you flag it as 'high priority'.
Top
10. Do not write in CAPITALS.
IF YOU WRITE IN CAPITALS IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE SHOUTING. This can be highly annoying and might trigger an unwanted response in the form of a flame mail. Therefore, try not to send any email text in capitals.
Top
11. Don't leave out the message thread.
When you reply to an email, you must include the original mail in your reply, in other words click 'Reply', instead of 'New Mail'. Some people say that you must remove the previous message since this has already been sent and is therefore unnecessary. However, I could not agree less. If you receive many emails you obviously cannot remember each individual email. This means that a 'threadless email' will not provide enough information and you will have to spend a frustratingly long time to find out the context of the email in order to deal with it. Leaving the thread might take a fraction longer in download time, but it will save the recipient much more time and frustration in looking for the related emails in their inbox!
Top
12. Add disclaimers to your emails.
It is important to add disclaimers to your internal and external mails, since this can help protect your company from liability. Consider the following scenario: an employee accidentally forwards a virus to a customer by email. The customer decides to sue your company for damages. If you add a disclaimer at the bottom of every external mail, saying that the recipient must check each email for viruses and that it cannot be held liable for any transmitted viruses, this will surely be of help to you in court (read more about email disclaimers). Another example: an employee sues the company for allowing a racist email to circulate the office. If your company has an email policy in place and adds an email disclaimer to every mail that states that employees are expressly required not to make defamatory statements, you have a good case of proving that the company did everything it could to prevent offensive emails.
Top
13. Read the email before you send it.
A lot of people don't bother to read an email before they send it out, as can be seen from the many spelling and grammar mistakes contained in emails. Apart from this, reading your email through the eyes of the recipient will help you send a more effective message and avoid misunderstandings and inappropriate comments.
Top
14. Do not overuse Reply to All.
Only use Reply to All if you really need your message to be seen by each person who received the original message.
Top
15. Mailings > use the Bcc: field or do a mail merge.
When sending an email mailing, some people place all the email addresses in the To: field. There are two drawbacks to this practice: (1) the recipient knows that you have sent the same message to a large number of recipients, and (2) you are publicizing someone else's email address without their permission. One way to get round this is to place all addresses in the Bcc: field. However, the recipient will only see the address from the To: field in their email, so if this was empty, the To: field will be blank and this might look like spamming. You could include the mailing list email address in the To: field, or even better, if you have Microsoft Outlook and Word you can do a mail merge and create one message for each recipient. A mail merge also allows you to use fields in the message so that you can for instance address each recipient personally. For more information on how to do a Word mail merge, consult the Help in Word.
Top
16. Take care with abbreviations and emoticons.
In business emails, try not to use abbreviations such as BTW (by the way) and LOL (laugh out loud). The recipient might not be aware of the meanings of the abbreviations and in business emails these are generally not appropriate. The same goes for emoticons, such as the smiley :-). If you are not sure whether your recipient knows what it means, it is better not to use it.
Top
17. Be careful with formatting.
Remember that when you use formatting in your emails, the sender might not be able to view formatting, or might see different fonts than you had intended. When using colors, use a color that is easy to read on the background.
Top
18. Take care with rich text and HTML messages.
Be aware that when you send an email in rich text or HTML format, the sender might only be able to receive plain text emails. If this is the case, the recipient will receive your message as a .txt attachment. Most email clients however, including Microsoft Outlook, are able to receive HTML and rich text messages.
Top
19. Do not forward chain letters.
Do not forward chain letters. We can safely say that all of them are hoaxes. Just delete the letters as soon as you receive them.
Top
20. Do not request delivery and read receipts.
This will almost always annoy your recipient before he or she has even read your message. Besides, it usually does not work anyway since the recipient could have blocked that function, or his/her software might not support it, so what is the use of using it? If you want to know whether an email was received it is better to ask the recipient to let you know if it was received.
Top
21. Do not ask to recall a message.
Biggest chances are that your message has already been delivered and read. A recall request would look very silly in that case wouldn't it? It is better just to send an email to say that you have made a mistake. This will look much more honest than trying to recall a message.
Top
22. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission.
Do not copy a message or attachment belonging to another user without permission of the originator. If you do not ask permission first, you might be infringing on copyright laws.
Top
23. Do not use email to discuss confidential information.
Sending an email is like sending a postcard. If you don't want your email to be displayed on a bulletin board, don't send it. Moreover, never make any libelous, sexist or racially discriminating comments in emails, even if they are meant to be a joke.
Top
24. Use a meaningful subject.
Try to use a subject that is meaningful to the recipient as well as yourself. For instance, when you send an email to a company requesting information about a product, it is better to mention the actual name of the product, e.g. 'Product A information' than to just say 'product information' or the company's name in the subject.
Top
25. Use active instead of passive.
Try to use the active voice of a verb wherever possible. For instance, 'We will process your order today', sounds better than 'Your order will be processed today'. The first sounds more personal, whereas the latter, especially when used frequently, sounds unnecessarily formal.
Top
26. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT.
Even more so than the high-priority option, you must at all times try to avoid these types of words in an email or subject line. Only use this if it is a really, really urgent or important message.
Top
27. Avoid long sentences.
Try to keep your sentences to a maximum of 15-20 words. Email is meant to be a quick medium and requires a different kind of writing than letters. Also take care not to send emails that are too long. If a person receives an email that looks like a dissertation, chances are that they will not even attempt to read it!
Top
28. Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks.
By sending or even just forwarding one libelous, or offensive remark in an email, you and your company can face court cases resulting in multi-million dollar penalties.
Top
29. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters.
If you receive an email message warning you of a new unstoppable virus that will immediately delete everything from your computer, this is most probably a hoax. By forwarding hoaxes you use valuable bandwidth and sometimes virus hoaxes contain viruses themselves, by attaching a so-called file that will stop the dangerous virus. The same goes for chain letters that promise incredible riches or ask your help for a charitable cause. Even if the content seems to be bona fide, the senders are usually not. Since it is impossible to find out whether a chain letter is real or not, the best place for it is the recycle bin.
Top
30. Keep your language gender neutral.
In this day and age, avoid using sexist language such as: 'The user should add a signature by configuring his email program'. Apart from using he/she, you can also use the neutral gender: ''The user should add a signature by configuring the email program'.
Top
31. Don't reply to spam.
By replying to spam or by unsubscribing, you are confirming that your email address is 'live'. Confirming this will only generate even more spam. Therefore, just hit the delete button or use email software to remove spam automatically.
Top
32. Use cc: field sparingly.
Try not to use the cc: field unless the recipient in the cc: field knows why they are receiving a copy of the message. Using the cc: field can be confusing since the recipients might not know who is supposed to act on the message. Also, when responding to a cc: message, should you include the other recipient in the cc: field as well? This will depend on the situation. In general, do not include the person in the cc: field unless you have a particular reason for wanting this person to see your response. Again, make sure that this person will know why they are receiving a copy.
Top
How do you enforce email etiquette?
The first step is to create a written email policy. This email policy should include all the do's and don'ts concerning the use of the company's email system and should be distributed amongst all employees. Secondly, employees must be trained to fully understand the importance of email etiquette. Finally, implementation of the rules can be monitored by using email management software and email response tools.


E-mail Etiquette
Email Etiquette - Why Is It Important?
Email Etiquette - The OWL at Purdue
Email Etiquette - Improve the way you communicate by mail
Using E-mail: Etiquette
Email Etiquette

Netiquette (Internet Etiquette)
Every few months a plague descends on Usenet called the spelling flame. It starts out when someone posts an article correcting the spelling or grammar in some article. The immediate result seems to be for everyone on the net to turn into a 6th grade English teacher and pick apart each other's postings for a few weeks. This is not productive and tends to cause people who used to be friends to get angry with each other.
- Chuq Von Rospach, Gene Spafford, Mark Moraes; A Primer on How to Work With the Usenet Community, 1983-1995.
"Netiquette" stands for "Internet Etiquette", and refers to the set of practices developed over the years to make the Internet experience pleasant for everyone. Like other forms of etiquette, netiquette is primarily concerned with matters of courtesy in communications. The following sections provide more information.
Netiquette Basics
Help the newbies
Research before asking
Remember emotion
People aren't organizations
Netiquette Of Sending:
Be brief
Use white space
Use descriptive subject lines
Stay on-topic
Be careful sending attachments
Copy the minimum number of people
Include your email address
Respect non-commercial spaces
Avoid flaming
Netiquette Of Replying
Replying and forwarding
Summarize for the group
Check current information before replying
Reference past communications
Acknowledge important communications
Netiquette Of Confidentiality
Don't publicize other's email addresses
Never send what you don't read
Remember archiving
Respect copyright
More Netiquette Information.

THE CORE RULES OF NETIQUETTE
The Core Rules of Netiquette are excerpted from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea. Click on each rule for elaboration.
Introduction
Rule 1: Remember the Human
Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life
Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace
Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth
Rule 5: Make yourself look good online
Rule 6: Share expert knowledge
Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control
Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy
Rule 9: Don't abuse your power
Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Baby Center
How can I get through baby showers?
Coed Baby Showers
Baby showers around the world
When can my baby go in the shower?
Baby shower party themes
Baby shower refreshments
Baby shower favors

Highlights Who should throw a baby shower?When should the shower be held?Who should be invited?What kind of invitations should I use?When should I send them?
Who should throw a baby shower?Anyone except the expectant couple — though Miss Manners might disagree. Formal etiquette says that someone who's not a relative must throw the shower to avoid having it look as though the family is asking for presents. Our advice? Ignore traditional rules. Any relative, close friend, or close co-worker should feel perfectly okay about planning a baby shower.
When should the shower be held?Most baby showers are held before the baby is born. Any time after conception is fine, but a shower makes for a welcome diversion toward the end of pregnancy. Besides, it just doesn't seem real if the expectant mom isn't sporting a big belly.When setting a date for the party, consult with the parents-to-be first. They may be able to warn you about scheduling conflicts. You may have to accommodate the schedules of grandparents, for example, even if they aren't the guests of honor. Nothing is worse than planning a party and sending out invitations (see below) only to find out that the most important people can't make it.If you decide to schedule a shower for after the baby is born, that's fine, too. Then guests can bring gifts specific to the baby's sex. And with a baby as the centerpiece, you'll have a surefire icebreaker and conversation topic.
Who should be invited?If you're hosting the shower, you may have some ideas about the guest list, but it's best to consult with the guest or guests of honor before finalizing your list. That way you avoid leaving out someone important or inviting someone the mom (or dad) would rather not include.What about hosting a shower for the expectant mom and dad? Although many baby showers still follow the "for women only" tradition, coed parties are growing in popularity. It all depends on what sort of gathering you're planning. If the shower is for a second or subsequent baby (these babies deserve a celebration, too!), the guest list is usually made up of close friends and family and anyone who was, for whatever reason, not invited to the first shower.Another party-planning consideration: Think long and hard before choosing to throw a surprise party. If your guest of honor doesn't like surprises, you may be putting her in an awkward position. Besides, if you let the future parents in on the arrangements, you can be confident that they'll be pleased with the outcome.
What kind of invitations should I use?In addition to including the basic who, what, where, when, and RSVP information on the invitation, it never hurts to spell out the theme of the shower inside. If the expectant parents are registered for baby gear anywhere, it's fine to mention that, too, but it may be easier (and even a bit more tasteful) to offer that information when guests call to respond.
When should I send them?Plan to send invitations out early enough to give the guests at least a few weeks' notice: This allows them enough time to work the shower into their schedules and shop for the perfect gift.