Do you make people defensive when you send email?

I've seen this many times. I was reading my favorite "email etiquette" blog tonight. here's what they had to say:


What many e-mailers do not realize is how easy it is to come off as blunt, terse or demanding. Even with your every day e-mails, it is so very important to ensure that you present yourself with clarity and courtesy.

A simple greeting at the beginning of every e-mail will help you to accomplish this. Just add a Hello, (name) or Hi, (name) and your e-mail will be taken in a completely different light. If you think about it, you don’t just pick up the phone and start talking without doing the same. I know phone and e-mail are different communication venues, but why should e-mail disregard common courtesy in light of being “informal” (informal is many times code for lazy)?

When you start an e-mail with a question or demand, without that greeting softening or framing your request, your e-mail can be perceived as bossy, demanding or easily misunderstood. Have a comment that states a point of view or opinion and without that oh-so-important greeting; you can come off as terse.

Every e-mail you send, should always begin with a proper greeting fitting of the tone you want to relay and formality that is required based on your relationship with the person you are e-mailing. By not making this extra effort, the negative impact of your requests or comments could cause those you communicate with to cringe when they see your name in their inbox.

And wouldn’t that be a shame when you can avoid such a reaction by just including a nice greeting?

If you don't include a greeting at the beginning of emails, please start!