We all have our pet peeves - for example, everyone knows how I feel about corporate speak. Here's another one to add to the list - bad email etiquette. Why is it that some of the warmest, intelligent, most articulate people I know construct some of the coldest, illegible emails? 

Yes, I understand you're busy. We all are. But there's no good excuse for sending emails that come across as frantic, sloppy or downright rude. The good news is that there are a few easy, simple things you can do to make your emails more readable and personable. Here are a few suggestions:

• Include a greeting and a closing.
  It takes no time at all to type "Hi Kathy" at the beginning of an email and "Thanks so much" at the end, and it immediately makes your email friendlier and more professional.
• Use spell check and proofread.
  Both steps are necessary. Spelling issues aside, you can cause major confusion if you incorrectly type a word or leave out important information.
• Plain, old 10-point Arial font is just fine.
  Huge, fancy fonts and bright colors are distracting and juvenile.
• Avoid all caps.
  IT CAN APPEAR AS THOUGH YOU'RE SHOUTING.
• Avoid ellipses.
  I'm guilty of these...but they can make it look as if you're rambling...and haven't put much thought into your email.
• Don't overuse exclamation points, but don't be afraid of them, either!!!
  I know a lot of people who seem to have a pathological fear of using an exclamation point in an email, perhaps because they're worried about appearing childish or unprofessional. There's nothing wrong with a cheery "Thanks!" at the end of an email.
• If there's any doubt about how the tone or contents of your email will be interpreted, pick up the phone.

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