Email has become scary. Most businesses these days operate at a fast pace. However, I have noticed that some people tend to rush it EMAIL, which may lead to errors. These mistakes have become my pet peeves and can also be detrimental to a business deal.

This article aims to highlight some common email mistakes in the business world.

1. Spelling of the name

Most people have email signatures that clearly show how to do it say their name. However, I still notice that the first names in the email are misspelled. If the person writing the email took a few extra seconds to correct what they wrote, they may realize they misspelled the name of the person they are emailing.

This might not seem like a big deal, but when I get an email with my name misspelled, it makes me believe that the person didn't take the time to review my email signature to check that my name is spelled correctly.

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2. Reply-all

I have come across situations where people should use the whole answer and don't. I've also come across situations where people shouldn't use the answer and do. Whenever I encounter one of these situations, I admit to getting frustrated. This simple mistake would probably never happen if people took the time to check their work.

3. Escort

Moving on with the pitfalls of email, let's talk about the pros old fashioned forward. I often receive email messages that I shouldn't receive. Before I forward any email, I always read the entire email. If there's anything even remotely debatable whether the person I'm forwarding the email to should read it, I won't forward it. I will then start a new email and copy and paste only the relevant sections of the email I will be forwarding. I think this forward error mostly happens when you are in the field and using your phone.

In my opinion, it is better not to rush. An email can usually wait until someone is back in their office, as opposed to sending a sent email that someone might regret sending at a later time.

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4. Use the phone!

Another mistake I sometimes see is people using email instead of picking up the phone. Email is extremely difficult to navigate in sensitive situations, and this tone can easily be misinterpreted. Whenever there is a delicate situation, I always recommend picking up the phone and having a dialogue. A phone conversation is much more personal than an email and allows someone to humanely navigate a conversion.

5. Subject lines

The subject line should be clear and allow the reader to understand what the email will be about. There should always be a subject line in an email. The lack of a subject line really confuses me because I can't understand why anyone would send an email without one. If I receive an email without a subject line, I will question the professionalism of the sender.

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6. Appendices

Another mistake I sometimes see is that the sender either forgets to attach an attachment or attaches the wrong attachment. This is another pet peeve of mine as it is so easily avoidable.

All it takes is just a few minutes before you hit send to double check this. These days, many email programs even have the ability to set a delay so that someone stops sending. Although I always recommend just double-checking before you hit send, I think it's worth setting up this unsent feature just in case your email program offers it.

7. Contacts

I don't see this that often, but I do find myself emailing the wrong person every now and then. If someone knows a lot of people with a similar name, they can accidentally direct the email to the wrong person. Not to sound like a broken record, but this is another mistake that can easily be avoided by double-checking one's work.

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8. Length

Finally, I would like to address the unnecessarily long emails. As I have established, we live in a fast-paced world. Every once in a while, I'll get an email that I find funny. This email is usually repetitive and can easily be condensed. If you happen to think you can send very long emails, then I suggest you give it to our new friend ChatGPT a test. Copy and paste your email into Chat and ask Chat to summarize it. Of course, double check that Chat works, but for the most part, I believe that the condensed email that comes out of Chat will be more productive than the original long email.

I'm sure many can also relate to the frustrations that come with email. I hope everyone takes time to think and process. Remember that it's better to take your time and write a good, thoughtful email than to rush and send an email you may regret later.