what's with the new lack of punctuation in emails?

15 replies

HistoryRepeatingItself · 09/09/2015 10:49

I've received quite a lot of emails recently where people (including professionals) simply don't use any punctuation. For example, a typical email may look like this:

Dear Ms HistoryRepeated

Thank you for your query. We normally stock that item but have temporarily run out. We will contact you as soon as new stock arrives.

Kind regards

Ms Jones

It's everywhere! I can't seem to bring myself to reply in such as way as to mirror this style, but does anybody know where it came from or what it's all about?

OP posts:

DadDadDad · 09/09/2015 14:05

Well, I've seen it in formal letters as well email, so it's not unique to the latter. (Might be interesting to look a letter you've got from an insurer, bank, or so on).

I've always understood it to be an "open" style where you don't punctuate the address, salutation and sign-off parts of the letter. I actually prefer it as a style, and as long the writer is consistent in using it, I don't see what the problem is.

Original poster

HistoryRepeatingItself · 09/09/2015 22:40

Oh, ok. Perhaps I've only just noticed it then.

Or perhaps not, because I'm usually pretty observant about that sort of thing.

Either way, I suppose perhaps it's of some comfort that it's actually a recognised format.

OP posts:

IguanaTail · 09/09/2015 22:47

That is the correct form when you block paragraph. Between each paragraph you leave a line and don't indent. Salutations and sign-offs have no punctuation.

When you indent paragraphs, you have to put the punctuation in, and you should not leave a line between paragraphs.

wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_taylor_modbuslet_7/222/57082/14613124.cw/content/index.html

elephantoverthehill · 09/09/2015 23:01

Are you worrying about a lack of commas or paragraph indentations? When typing there are no paragraph indentations, just double line spacing. Or are you concerned about the sign off?

I find it very annoying when people send e-mails with obvious 'typos' which have not been corrected, so as to give an air of 'I am so busy, I just didn't notice'. Everybody checks an e-mail before hitting send.

MirandaGoshawk · 11/09/2015 16:39

Lack of commas in a letter has been a style choice for years and looks far less cluttered, IMO. It seems the US use more punctuation than we do - I came across a discussion recently about whether Mr & Mrs should have a period dot after them - they concluded yes, but they are wrong! Where a word is abbreviated using the final letter of the word (Mister, Missus, Mistress) no dot is needed. This is may or may not be relevant to your OP

SenecaFalls · 15/09/2015 00:15

In the US, Mr., Mrs., and Ms. have periods after them, but not Miss (which is seldom used anyway).

Cooroo · 15/09/2015 22:05

It doesn't actually matter what you put in an email after the first line as no one reads that far. Even when there's a vital question about their job in it. [tears out hair]

RalphSteadmansEye · 15/09/2015 22:11

Er... I did my RSA word processing exams etc 25 years ago and 'open' punctuation in formal letters was standard even then. I think only people 50 ish and older were taught to put commas after 'Dear Mr X' and to indent?

SwedishEdith · 15/09/2015 22:12

I can't see what's wrong with the email? Indented paragraphs look weirdly old-fashioned - usually only from people 65+, I've found.

I must admit I'm often too lazy to use full-stops now - especially on here

elephantoverthehill · 15/09/2015 22:37

SwedishEdith I am not 65 but I do indent paragraphs when hand writing and certainly expect students to do it.
Ralph obviously you know about the one space after a comma and two after a fullstop.
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