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Correspondence: emails, text messages, etc

Formal emails: style and layout​

Formal emails are similar in style to letters on paper. The writer’s postal address and phone numbers, if they are included, follow the signature.

Personal messages​

Personal messages sent by email, by (SMS) text messages and other social media (such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Tumblr, online chatrooms) are usually much more informal in style than letters on paper. Instead of Dear X, they might begin for example X, Hi, Hi X, Hello X, Good morning X, or with no salutation at all. Sentence structure may be reduced: for example Can’t come because work. Afterthoughts that are added after the signature (or in following messages) are often introduced by PS (AmE P.S.), an abbreviation of Latin post scriptum (= ‘written afterwards’). People who have forgotten to include an attachment often send it in a follow-up message beginning ‘Oops!’.

Addresses​

email addresses are read as follows:

Note also the names of symbols in ‘urls’ (internet addresses):

  • /: forward slash
  • \: backslash
  • :: colon

Text version

Example of an informal email

To: phil@gcom.org.net
Cc:
Subject: new address

Hi Phil,

Good to hear from you.

How about 29 or 30 Sept?

I am working like crazy - still a lot to do around the house. Also signed up for a creative writing course - don't laugh!

Enjoying the village - very interesting world this, but there are times when they talk a language I don't understand. 😀

New address etc below.

Yours
Robin

63 Baker Lane
Carstairs
Yorkshire LS7 3PO
Tel 01466 790256

txt msgs (text messages)​

A number of abbreviations are commonly used in text messages, especially by younger people. A few examples:

  • 2bsy : too busy
  • afk : away from keyboard
  • asap : as soon as possible
  • atm : at the moment
  • btw : by the way
  • cu : see you
  • fyi : for your information
  • gd : good
  • gr8 : great
  • idm : I don’t mind
  • jk : just kidding
  • l8r : later
  • lol : laugh out loud
  • ngl : not gonna lie
  • nm : never mind
  • np : no problem
  • omg : Oh, my God!
  • rn : right now
  • ruok? : Are you OK?
  • tbh : to be honest
  • tx, thx : thanks