5 common email mistakes

We send a LOT of emails! So it’s no wonder mistakes are made. But they can also be costly mistakes that result in your message not being read, not resonating, or resonating in the wrong way! Here’s five common email mistakes that everyone should be on the lookout for.

1. Too long

People are busy, and they simply don’t have time to read long emails. It’s really annoying to receive a long email and have to search through for the point of it, or what action is required. Get to the point quickly! (See our blog post on How to write emails that don’t suck.)

2. Spelling and grammar errors

This might seem like an insignificant thing, but spelling and grammar errors speak to your brand, your level of professionalism, and your level of care. Spelling a person’s name wrong in particular can come across as really careless! If you know spelling and grammar is your forte, try using an in-built spellcheck or a tool such as Grammarly.

3. Inaccurate information

Emails carry risk - anything that’s written is discoverable, and emails are very easily forwarded to hundreds and thousands of people. So you want to make sure you get the information right, because it’s really hard (if not impossible) to backtrack later! If you’re including information about a strategy, statistics, an incident, or anything in between, make sure your facts are correct.

4. Sending to the wrong person or list

This can be a big issue if your email includes sensitive information. Double check the autofill function has got the right person or distribution list … and if you’re not sure, find out first before you hit send! Distribution lists are often out of date too, especially if they’re not automated, so you might need to check who’s on the list before sending.

5. You should have just picked up the phone

If the matter is complex, sensitive, or unclear, then just pick up the phone and have a conversation. This will save you a lot of back and forth, and the potential for an ‘email argument’ to occur or escalate will be negated. It also reduces the risk of sensitive information being leaked to other people or outside of the organisation.

Is email really the best way to communicate?

We all have different preferences for communication - and not everyone responds well to written communication! Find out your preferences by taking our free Communication Personality Type quiz! It’ll give you insights into what works for you, and for others.