Write Professional Emails

🏷️ MOOCS

Week 1

Subject line

• Clear and brief

Greeting

• Use title

  • Dear Sir
  • Dear Madam
  • To Whom It May Concern

Email text

• Don’t write long
• Only include ESSENTIAL DETAILS
• Remain BRIEF
• Keep 1-2 paragraphs
• 3 or 4 sentences
• 1-2 requests
• Don’t COMPLAIN or BLAME -> Self blaming
• Always add WORDS of THANKS

Closing

• Keep it SHORT and SIMPLE: Regards/Best Regards
• Add SIGNATURE: First name + Last name
• Add contact information

Don’t send until you READ and CHECK

Think about CULTURE

Consider your READER

The best way to write BRIEF:

• Use your OWN WORDS
• Use your OWN MESSAGE
• Say ONLY the words NEEDED
• Focus on PRECISION
• Don’t use PASSIVE voice

CLEAR

• Be PRECISE
• Include only IMPORTANT info

Avoid words: must/demand/should/require/necessity

Punctuation:

• Don’t use contractions (can’t, wouldn’t)
• Don’t use exclamation point (!)
• Use comma(,) for FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), list, geographical names, dates, titles
• Avoid semicolons
• Use quotation marks("") for direct speech only
• Don’t use emoticons

Week 2

Subject line

Brief

Clear

• Include KEY WORDS
• Put important words at BEGINING

Direct

• Use active words

Email text

Introduction

Author

Purpose

Development

Ask WH questions

Conclusion

Show appreciation

• Thank
• Appreciate
• be glad about

Conclude with:

• Wish
• Hope
• Look forward to

Week 4

Request email

• Please…
• Could/Would…
• Would you mind + gerund…
• would like…

Apology email

• I’m sorry if + description: NOT sure of responsibility
• I’m sorry that + description: 100% sure
• I’m sorry about + NOUN: small errors

https://www.coursera.org/learn/professional-emails-english/home/week/1