Email etiquette: to reply or not to reply - that is the question?

Email etiquette: to reply or not to reply - that is the question. - I always wonder when it is acceptable to not reply and when a reply is necessary in an email. I'd appreciate any input.

Thank you. Asked by MsBookwormGeek 46 months ago Similar questions: Email etiquette reply question Computers > Internet.

Similar questions: Email etiquette reply question.

Replying to emails I think the guidelines should be slightly different for personal and professional emails. For personal emails, the only time a reply is really necessary is when you’re asked a direct question that requires a response. "What do you want for your birthday?" requires a reply, while "FW: FW: FW: OMG this is too funny!

" definitely does not. For emails that aren’t asking you a specific question but are still updating you on a friend or acquaintance’s life, it’s nice to keep up the correspondence, but don’t feel like you have to instantly reply to every single email you get! I generally consider the importance my reply is going to carry.

"It was nice to hear from you. This is what I’ve been up to:" can wait a week or two, but "I’m so sorry your dog died" should probably be sent a little more promptly. You can even send a reply that says something to the effect of "I’m sorry I don’t have time to respond the way I want to, but you can expect some real correspondence soon" which buys you some time.

And if the email you got doesn’t really bring up anything you’re just dying to say, and you have no news of your own to impart, skip it! You can send the other person a fresh email when you have something to share. Replies to business emails should be a little more forthcoming.

Even if all you’re saying is "thank you" or "I’ll take that into consideration", your reply acknowledges that you’ve received and understood the message. If you’re asked a question that requires a little work/time/research to answer, you should still reply right away and just give an approximate time frame for the person to expect your real reply."I should have an answer for you early next week; please let me know if something comes up in the meantime" lets the other person know that you really are working on it and they can safely keep from hounding you...at least until early next week. If someone is getting back to you with a response and you’re ready to end the correspondence, just reply with "thank you" or "I appreciate your help" so that they know that they can consider the matter closed.

Business or personal, it’s always nice to be courteous and acknowledge you received someone’s message, but there’s no need to reply to the reply of your reply ad nauseam. If you’re not sure whether a reply is needed, just imagine you were the one sending the email you just received and consider whether you would appreciate a reply. And whenever you’re just not sure if one is required, send one just to be safe, even if all it says is "thanks".

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My only rule is to reply within 24 hours if a reply is necessary. I don't know that there's any hard-and-fast rule about when replies are required or necessary. Email being as reliable as it is now, and the technical ability of those using it being so much better, we all normally feel comfortable knowing the message got there.

That being said, replies would be necessary when you personally feel a response serves a purpose. My only personal rule in that respect is that if I'm planning to reply, I do it if at all possible within 24 hours. Otherwise, everyone involved kind of loses their chain of thought, or worse yet, a person has already sent additional messages and the association between the original message and response might be mixed up with a different message.My two cents... hope that helps!

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I think it's always ok to reply. Even a quik "thank you" or "ok" can say a lot when you are busy. I don't always reply but it's mostly to save the other person some time..

It depends on the message. Sometimes I'll send a humorous or general info only email that doesn't need a reply, and I get back a message with LOL or Thanks. Thant's just useless inbox pollution.

You have to know when not to reply. I think the general rule would be if you wouldn't reply to it if it were a letter or memo (i.e. Paper), don't reply to it in email.

But email is also a conversation, so you keep it going as long as you have to. But there comes a time to break off the conversation when its done. Unlike conversation, you don't have to exchange long goodbyes.In general be sensitive to how full the recipients inbox can get and don't contribute by sending useless messages.

It is a judgement call, not replying is OK when nothing is expected by the sender, and required when it is. IMHO, if a reply to an email will assist the original sender in moving ahead with a thought process and/or an activity, a reply is necessary. However, if there is nothing expected by the original sender then a reply is not necessary..

" "Question for the Fashionistas regarding appropriate label etiquette (see details)?" "Etiquette question.

Why is it that when some people email me, all I see is the heading and the rest is blank, but if I hit reply, I will see.

Cannot reply or compose new email in Outlook 2007.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.