Can you guess what it is? After all, you don't want to sound too eager, or cold, or passive-aggressive—you just want to sound friendly and get your point across. However, when the person on the other end has zero context of who you are, they’re left to read between the lines. And if you add the wrong punctuation mark or leave it out, you may regret it. Suddenly, that little dot or dash you barely thought about is doing a lot more heavy lifting than you intended.
Related: An Etiquette Expert Is Begging You To Stop Using This Phrase in Emails
The Punctuation To Stop Using in Emails, an Etiquette Expert Warns
"Using two exclamation points in an email to someone is extreme, but can be fun for emphasis," he points out. And even though it can "be fun," you should be careful about typing too many.
"... Using three exclamation points stops conveying enthusiasm and starts to make the reader question your sanity," he adds. "For example, writing something to a potential client like, 'Let’s schedule brunch for noon!!!' doesn’t come across as more sincere or enthusiastic than writing it with just one and typing out, 'Let’s schedule brunch for noon!'"
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"On the other hand, a single exclamation mark when well-placed is certainly one way to inject warmth into a message that might otherwise come across as flat," Leighton tells Parade.
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"There’s definitely a time and place for a well-placed ellipsis," he says. "But certainly if you’re ending a sentence with an ellipsis, that can definitely come across as super passive-aggressive in an email. For example, saying, 'The report was due on my desk on Friday…' can come across as you being judgmental or disappointed. To some people who see that in an email, it can even seem like a veiled threat."
2. Multiple question marks
"Stacking question marks takes a neutral question into new territory," he reveals. "It turns mere curiosity into impatience or disbelief when someone sees it in an email. For example, writing, 'Did you get my email ?' is very aggressive-like, compared to just, 'Did you get my email?'"
"People may think that a dash can sometimes take the place of a softer transition, but it depends on how it’s used, as that's not always how it comes across," he explains. "For example, writing, 'I’ll handle it—please don’t send more' can feel sharper than a softer, more spaced-out sentence. Therefore, using a dash can often add emphasis or a sudden shift in tone, which can come across as a little abrupt in emails—especially if the rest of the message is already brief or direct."
4. Too many periods
"Overusing periods can be a mistake in an email. In fact, sentences with only periods can make an email feel cold," he states. "In an age where everything can be over-analyzed, the humble period is now getting increased scrutiny. Sure, some sentences can be made to feel deliberately cold when they end with a period, like 'Fine.'"
4 Expert-Approved Punctuations To Use in Emails Instead
There are tons of punctuations that Leighton approves of and suggests people use more of.
"Commas give people those natural pauses that they use when they speak, so when they’re in our writing and used well, they can sometimes help make you come across as friendlier or more conversational," he points out.
2. Colons
"A colon says, 'Get ready… here’s what’s coming!' It preps the reader for what’s ahead and helps keep things organized," Leighton states. "They’re also very helpful when skimming an email because they’re often followed by a short list. Being considerate of the reader is always polite. A good example is, 'Here’s what we need:'"
"A slash can be pretty chill," Leighton reveals. "It often gives an either/or vibe and signals that you’re not attached to either suggestion, so you’re letting the reader decide which they prefer. It’s often a low-pressure way to give someone options, like sending them a note that says, 'We can meet in person/virtually.'"
4. Parentheses
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Nick Leighton is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-host of the etiquette and manners podcast Were You Raised By Wolves?Hence then, the article about an etiquette expert is begging you to stop using this punctuation in emails was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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