The Daily Room

The Art of Email Punctuation

Smart middle managers everywhere have been successfully using proper email punctuation for years. Now you can too with these “inside” tips.
Let’s look at some examples:

How are you?
vs.
How are You????????????????????

You see, the second time I REALLY wanted to know how you are. The first time I didn’t care.
Now let’s try this one. What do you think the following means?

“Please come see me.”

Wrong. It actually means “I don’t really want or need you to come see me”.

Now “Please come see me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”, that means “I want you to come see me for real and it’s dreadfully important”.

Are you getting the hang of it?
Well are you???????????????????????????

Let’s look at a before and after of a typical email:

Dear Jim,
Where’s the project at?
Lemme know,
Rob

vs.

Dear Jim…………….. (All these periods create a sense of drama.)
Where’s that project at??????????????? (This is the most important question ever.)
LEMME KNOW, (I’m really, really angry.)
Rob (Rob)

Remember, those who punctuate properly don’t get promoted very often.
Now go punctuate for success, not readability………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!