Business emails

Emoticons

A symbol of your feelings in the form of a human face (e.g. smiley face, sad face) embodied in the text.

Attachment

An electronic file sent with an email.

Body Text

Conveys the main message of the email. It should also include an introduction and conclusion. It should be written in short paragraphs of one to two sentences. Where it will add clarity, use bulleted or numbered lists.

Signature

Helps your reader find all the information about you that they need.

Email Thread

If you are doing a reply, all the emails that have come before the reply.

Business Language

Language used for business communications - it is more formal and respectful than the ordinary spoken English used in texting and in personal emails.

Reply Function

The email function which enables you to send a reply to the recipient without having to key in the email address.

Reply All Function

The email function which enables you to send the reply to everyone copied on the original email.

Subject Line

The field in an email where you enter a clear description of the email that you are sending. The first part of the email your reader sees. It can determine whether your reader opens the email. Most experts agree that subject lines should be short (six to ten words) and specific.

Salutation

The greeting which goes before the main text of an email, e.g. 'Dear Mr'. How you greet the reader. It's important that you understand whether you are addressing a formal or informal audience.

Blind Copy (Bcc)

The option for you to copy an email you are sending to one or more other people so that each person copied does not see the email addresses of the other people being copied in.

Carbon Copy (Cc)

The option for you to copy an email you are sending to one or more other people.

Complimentary Close

The wording used to sign off an email, e.g. 'Yours Sincerely'