Don't Pile on the Topics in an Email Reply

Today in "How to Write Email That Gets Read and Gets Results," which I presented for the Washington Society of CPAs," we talked about our pet peeves, things that slow us down and drive us nuts as email readers. An auditor shared one of her pet peeves that I'd like to pass on to you. Here is what she said, as I recall it:

"As an auditor, I write to people about very specific topics. I am careful to craft a subject line that is very precise, and I continue to use that subject as we email back and forth on the same topic.

"The problem is that people include all kinds of information on other topics--not what I wrote them about--and they use the same subject. I have the hardest time filing those messages so I can find the information again."

I couldn't have described the problem better.

Here is my advice: To avoid driving your readers crazy as they read or attempt to file your messages, limit your messages to just one topic--especially when communicating with an accountant, attorney, project manager, financial advisor, or another person who works on specific projects or issues with you. Whenever you want to introduce a new topic, start a new message.

If you want to help other people change their email behavior, give them my booklet "110 Tips for Sending Email That Gets Read--and Gets Results." You might circle tip Number 17, "Do not introduce a new topic when you reply to an email. If you do, your reader may miss the new information or be unable to find it later." The booklet fits in a No. 10 business envelope.

Happy emailing.

Lynn
Syntax Training

 

Comments

[Alfredo]

Not to get off topic . . . :-)

But on a related note, I think it is essential when replying to an email to include the full thread of email replies up to that point. I once read a business writing textbook that opposed doing so. But when I forward an email to a third party, that third party can lose context if I am forwarding an email that does not include the history of discussion. As a result, I might need to find those other emails and include them as attachments.

[Anne]

In Microsoft Outlook you can change the subject line of messages you've received, making those messages on topics other than your original subject easy to file and find. Just double click on the message so it opens in its own window, type a new subject line and close the message. You'll be prompted whether you want to save changes - click YES and you're done.

[Lynn Gaertner-Johnston]

Hi, Alfredo. I agree with you about the value of keeping threads. At the same time, it's appropriate to review them and pull out unrelated information that might get in the way.

[Lynn Gaertner-Johnston]

Hi, Anne. I appreciate your good advice about changing the subject in the email we receive. I still want to encourage writers to limit their topics though. If someone writes to the auditor about three topics, she has to copy the message and rename it at least twice. The three topics create extra work for her and increase the likelihood that she will struggle to find bits of information. From my viewpoint, it's much easier for the writer to send three short messages.

Thanks for commenting!