Email

The basic characteristics of effective correspondence presented earlier are applicable to email as well:

Several guidelines as well as the guidelines for etiquette and ethics apply to email specifically.

Be appropriately formal when writing email. The rule of thumb is to be almost as formal as you are in standard memorandums.
Avoid using emoticons (faces produced by the internet counterculture in answer to email being devoid of body language). For example:

<G> – I’m grinning as I write this sentence

<LOL> – I’m laughing out loud

😉 – denotes a wink

:-! – Foot in mouth!

Use the subject line provided on your email form. This line should be concise yet give enough information, so the receiver knows the purpose of the message at a glance
Think through the purpose of your email before you begin writing
Organise the message. Email should not be longer than one screen. If you are writing a memo longer than one screen, send a traditional hard copy memorandum
Edit and proofread carefully! Check your spelling. Do not send an email that contains inaccuracies or incorrect grammar. Most email programs allow for checking spelling and grammar. Set the preferences so that spelling and grammar are checked
Use complete sentences
Capitalise and punctuate properly
Do not run sentences together
Insert a blank line after each paragraph
Include your name and title (if appropriate) when replying to an email. Often you can add a signature in your preferences, which will automatically include this information at the end of every email you send
Assume that any message you send is permanent
Do not double space your entire message. It takes up too much space and makes the message more difficult to read
Be wary of humour or sarcasm. Electronic communication is devoid of body language, so the slightest hint of sarcasm could be badly misinterpreted
Avoiding using all uppercase or all lowercase letters