Posted on Aug 5, 2014
Is there an online course that I can recommend to my fellow sailors for proper emailing etiquette?
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Emailing is a large part of our careers and a large part on how we communicate. That being said. There seems to be quite the conundrum in my command about proper email etiquette. As in proper openings and closings, sentence structure or lack of, and my favorite shorthand. I have made a few searches on NKO- navy knowledge online, and found nothing. Would anyone have any guidance on this matter?
Posted in these groups: 
Email
Communications
Email Communications
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Shipmate, not much on NKO. The best way to learn is by looking at the structure of incoming emails, particularly from the higher ups and try to emulate their formatting.
After you type it up, read it from scratch and see if it makes sense. Find someone you trust in proofreading your emails for accuracy and clarity. Finally don't forget to R/ if addressing someone at or below you and V/R for someone above.
And if all else fails, feel free to send me a liner for an extra set of eyes. Hooyah!
R/
MA1 Dronzin
After you type it up, read it from scratch and see if it makes sense. Find someone you trust in proofreading your emails for accuracy and clarity. Finally don't forget to R/ if addressing someone at or below you and V/R for someone above.
And if all else fails, feel free to send me a liner for an extra set of eyes. Hooyah!
R/
MA1 Dronzin
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LCDR (Join to see)
Actually, this is a good question. Many of us cut our teeth before Navy-wide e-mail (as evidenced by my 1990s spelling of it). I'm fairly formal in my e-mails because I don't really know what the standards are - so I default to normal written communication.
A new one is texting. I don't like texting co-workers, since it seems too informal. When I do, though, I'm the awkward guy who spells out words, punctuates, and capitalizes (but not every word).
As for V/R and /r - those have been depreciated. I still use them though. I write out "Very Respectfully" for things going up the chain, "V/R" it for equals, and use /r going down the chain.
Oh, and for the record, "Sailor" is always capitalized. I got screamed at for that, first time I wrote my FitRep.
A new one is texting. I don't like texting co-workers, since it seems too informal. When I do, though, I'm the awkward guy who spells out words, punctuates, and capitalizes (but not every word).
As for V/R and /r - those have been depreciated. I still use them though. I write out "Very Respectfully" for things going up the chain, "V/R" it for equals, and use /r going down the chain.
Oh, and for the record, "Sailor" is always capitalized. I got screamed at for that, first time I wrote my FitRep.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Well said LCDR (Join to see). I don't think V/R or /R have depreciated much. My chain still insists I use them. I just have them set to pre-populate when I initiate a new string email
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
LCDR (Join to see) I am the same way with texting sir. I always address the person Im texting by their rank and name or at least sir, ma'am if it's an officer.
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PO1 (Join to see)
SSG V. Michelle Woods, you deserve a thumbs up! Well, if I get picked for OCS in about a month, you'll have to give me a digital salute
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I'd suggest typing very simple rules on one single word document, no more than page. This isn't to demean anyone in your command but rather it may get through to them more than an actual course or SOP.
Or they can sit in on a fifth-grade class lol.
Or they can sit in on a fifth-grade class lol.
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Elementary School English should have covered all the basics involved in letter writing a.k.a. emailing - opening, body, closing. There really is no "class" on emailing, it all falls on common sense. God, I hate to say come up with an SOP on emails, because this seems like such a simple issue - write an email as you would a letter.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Sure no problem SSgt Gregory Guina. Hold you're breath and I'll get right back to you on that :-)
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PO1 (Join to see)
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca and SSgt Gregory Guina, y'all keep talking. Someone from DoD reads this and gets an idea on making DoD directive on how to write letters. And I know whom to blame and vote down then >:-(
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SSgt Gregory Guina
PO1 (Join to see) There is already naval letter format (the bane of my existence) I am sure it is just a matter of time before there is one for Email. Hopefully not before May of next year since I will be having a retirement ceremony in April.
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