Comments on: MM: Letterquette

By: Punctuality Rules! » Blog Archive » MM: Email–a Memo or a Letter?

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:31:34 +0000

[...] the comments to last week’s Mangled Monday about the structure of a letter, Melissa asked: “What do you think about emails that don’t have a salutation? I always [...]

By: --Deb

--Deb — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:52:01 +0000

I don’t think it’s fair to apply letter formatting to an email unless it’s VERY formal, because it’s a completely different format–you can’t expect them to be the same any more than television and movies are the same. There are some basic similarities, but still, different!

Actually, if anything, I think of them more like memos rather than letters–they’ve got the To/From/Date/Subject format that a memo has, and memos don’t NEED salutations and closings. they’re just a statement. That said, I’m pretty casual about my emails. I’ll put the person’s name on the top, and put my name on the bottom of the first email, but if an exchange/conversation kicks up, don’t worry about it. At that point, I figure we know who we are!

But, hmmm, I think now I’ve got my topic for next week’s MM!

–Deb (signed on purpose)

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:21:52 +0000

@Deb, What do you think about emails that don't have a salutation? I always try to start mine with a greeting unless I get into a really fast-paced conversation with short emails flying back and forth at a rapid rate. Then it's more like an IM discussion. I notice many people forgo salutations on emails, especially after the first pass. Melissa Donovan's last blog post..How to Face the Blank Page When Your Muse is on Vacation

By: JC

JC — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:56:18 +0000

I know that it sounds odd and perhaps immature but the appropriate closing used by the president of the United States when writing other heads of state is “Your friend”. Cute, huh?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:10:08 +0000

Deb,

I love real letters. I feel good when I’m sending one and thrilled when I receive one that’s formatted well. They are rare enough that they make a very good impression, in business as well as in “life.”

Re: dates. I even date post-its or other little memos. Sometimes the recipient hangs on to (buries) my “suggestion” for a while, and a date helps the person to know when it’s been a bit too long and they should get right on whatever it was.

This post is a great reminder. Thanks!

Regards,

Kelly

Kelly’s last blog post..Let’s Go Out and Not Come Back Tonight

By: --Deb

--Deb — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:40:40 +0000

Thing is, a lot of these pieces are there in an informal note, too–you don’t have to CALL it by its formal name for it to be there. My personal letters always have a date on the top, a salutation, a body, and a signature … sometimes I’ll jot in where I’m writing the letter from, and sometimes I’ll have a closing (“Love,”) but the other pieces are THERE. I’m just not thinking about them HAVING to be there (grin).

–Deb’s last blog post..MM: Letterquette

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:29:04 +0000

Ugh, I've never been a fan of formatting letters like this. They do look nice though! Melissa Donovan's last blog post..Seven Journals for Writers