Emoticons and Email Etiquettes

Did you know that people around the world send millions of e-mails and text messages to their counterparts on a daily basis? E-mail is apparently the most popular of all internet activities at 88% which puts it ahead of the increasingly popular social networking sites (McKay 2009). As e-mail was largely based on text, one major problem with communication via e-mail was conveying emotions through text. Bernhardt (1986, p. 66) claimed that texts itself convey quite little information, but substantial information would be revealed with the presence of visible cues such as symbols.


Based on the transcript Emoticons and E-mail Etiquettes by ABC Radio National, Professor Scott Fahlman, heralded as the creator of emoticons invented the first smiley face emoticon by typing a colon, followed by a hyphen and a parenthesis. According to Schriver (1997, p. 399), when symbols are placed in dynamic relation to one another, the meanings can be enriched. The smiley emoticon created by Fahlman aids in the intention or emotion setting in e-mails by portraying the sender’s mood or facial expression. The first smiley was intended to portray the happy and pleasant look.


However, it is vital that emoticons be used sparingly as overusing emoticons would make more formal e-mails such as corporate e-mails look too casual. Etiquettes apply even when corresponding through e-mail. Some modern corporations embrace the usage of emoticons while some of them are more foreboding. The following guide from Emailreplies.com (2009) would help to alleviate the sender from misinforming the receiver:

1. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation.
2. Not writing in CAPITALS.
3. Use proper structure & layout.
4. Do not copy a message or attachment without permission.
5. Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT.
6. Keep your language gender neutral.
7. Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters.


Good e-mail etiquette ensures smooth and accurate communication between parties. It is important to draw the line between when or when not to use emoticons in an e-mail and also to know how much is actually too much when emoticons are included. Knowing good e-mail etiquette helps the sender to maintain the professionalism of the company he or she is employed with and also protect it from possible liability.

Reference list

ABC.Net.Au 2007, ‘Emoticon and email etiquette’, updated 18 October 2007, viewed 10 June 2010, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2064342.htm

Bernhardt, SA 1986, ‘Seeing the Text’, College Composition and Communication, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 66-78.

Emailreplies.com 2009, Email etiquettee, viewed 10 June 2010,
http://www.emailreplies.com/

McKay, DR 2009, Email Etiquette: Part 1: Why Is It Important?, Abour.com, viewed 10 June 2010, http://careerplanning.about.com/od/communication/a/email_etiquette.htm

Schriver, KA 1997, ‘Chapter 6: The Interplay of Words and Pictures’, in Dynamics in Document Design: Creating Texts for Readers, Wiley Computer Pub., New York, pp. 361-441.