Most of us constantly complain about getting too much e-mails. Despite this, we certainly cannot deny the fact that we have to deal with them. That includes replying to messages, and creating e-mails that would be readable for everyone.

Writing good, professional business emails is now a must-have skill for almost anyone employed in the formal sector. And sometimes, it can even make or break your reputation among your colleagues, and yes, even your boss. Just like the business clothes you wear, or how you speak and present yourself, the way you write your emails can say a lot about who you are.

This is why we decided to give you this list of the top 5 business email mistakes. Make sure that you avoid these like the plague!

The 5 Most Common Email Mistakes

1. Ignoring your subject line.

   Because we all receive tons of emails everyday, the subject line of your email is highly important. A lot of people don’t think about their subjects much. People who need to read your emails might end up sending them to the trash, so your simple “Hi” or “Hello” on the subject line won’t do. Your subject line should give an idea about what your email is about, but don’t make it too long. Additionally, don’t mark every email as urgent in your subject line; only mark the ones that actually do need urgent attention.
   

2. Spelling and grammatical errors.

   You’ve probably heard this one before, but we need to say it again: stop making spelling and grammatical errors in your emails! Many bosses complain about these errors. Spelling and grammatical errors can get on people’s nerves – especially if you’re dealing with grammar nazis. You should always, always check your email before sending them!
   

3. Not checking the tone of your email.

   Many people seem to forget that email is not like real-life interaction. While some ‘jokes’ would pass off as okay in real life, it may not be a good idea to put them in your emails. Additionally, make sure that you don’t sound “offensive” in your emails. Even if you didn’t intend to sound annoying or snobbish, it may come off that way to some people, so check your email tone.

    

4. Not knowing the differences between CC, BCC, and Reply All.

   Many executives complain about employees not knowing when to reply, reply all, cc, and bcc. Your office also probably has that embarrassing employee who accidentally sent a personal email to everyone, including bosses! That’s why it’s important to always check who will receive your emails, and ask yourself whether they should be receiving your email or not.

    

5. Not being clear nor concise.

   We receive hundreds of emails a day, so you need to be straight to the point with your emails. Many workers are annoyed with long emails that end up looking “rambly”. So keep your emails short and sweet, but don’t leave out important details.

Be a Better Email Writer

Take note of the most common email business mistakes that we listed so that you won’t commit them. And don’t forget the golden rule of emailing: always check before sending!

Final Thoughts

The five most common email mistakes businesspeople make are: not knowing the difference between CC, BCC, and Reply All; not being clear nor concise; not proofreading; not checking who will receive the email; and having a bad email tone. To avoid these mistakes, proofread your email, be clear and concise, and check who will receive the email before sending it.  Also if something does slip by don’t worry, mistakes happen and they’re often not even noticed by people.

In conclusion, taking the time to proofread and edit your business emails will ensure that you come across as professional and credible. With a little practice, you can avoid these common mistakes and make a positive impression every time you hit “send.”. Maybe invest in an email client that allows you to unsend like Spark.