There is only ONE rule you need to follow.
- Speak to people how they would like to be spoken to.
I get so annoyed with all this email rules BS. 5 sentences max, Twitter-style "body in subject", dot points only etc etc. All a load of crap.
You don't need rules. You need to learn some simple etiquette.
If someone always writes to you starting with "Hi Alan", then you better be sure you reply with "Hi Bob". If someone (important) takes the time to write you a well thought out, detailed email, you bloody well take the time to reply in kind. If someone writes to you in dot points, then and only then is it ok to reply in dot points.
Being curt with someone who appreciates detail is just as bad as being verbose with someone who appreciate brevity.
True, but I do think there are more general rules that can be applied categorically. Be precise, for example. If you find yourself using a lot of "and/or" statements in an email, or qualifying a point you're making, then you're probably not being as precise as you could be. Some people like long emails, and some people like short emails, but nobody likes vague or confusing emails.
"Mirroring" as an etiquette strategy only works with those currently in a position of being your social peers. It doesn't work with social superiors (e.g. mailing in a resume when applying for a job) or inferiors (e.g. "I see you're all trying to guess how X works. I made X; I'll explain.")
I get so annoyed with all this email rules BS. 5 sentences max, Twitter-style "body in subject", dot points only etc etc. All a load of crap.
You don't need rules. You need to learn some simple etiquette.
If someone always writes to you starting with "Hi Alan", then you better be sure you reply with "Hi Bob". If someone (important) takes the time to write you a well thought out, detailed email, you bloody well take the time to reply in kind. If someone writes to you in dot points, then and only then is it ok to reply in dot points.
Being curt with someone who appreciates detail is just as bad as being verbose with someone who appreciate brevity.