Read the interview with a journalist. Then complete the article.
A: What mistakes do people make when they write e-mails?
B: Often they’re too vague.
A: Are there any other common mistakes?
B: Yes, they ask for information they don’t need - this wastes everyone’s time.
A: So how can we make a good first impression in an e-mail?
B: Be specific about the subject - and for goodness’ sake, don’t use words like ‘hello’ on the subject line!
A: How formal should we be?
B: Be as formal or casual as the person who sent you the e-mail.
A: Do people send too many e-mails?
B: Yes. E-mails are for giving and confirming information. Don’t use them for negotiations.
A: Could you tell me why companies monitor their employees’ e-mails?
B: Many reasons. Sometimes they want to be sure that employees aren’t giving secrets away to
competitors.
Writing Emails
I asked Hamish Elphinstone (17) ........................................................................... when they wrote e-
mails and he replied that people were often unclear about what they wanted. I asked him (18)
........................................................................... any other common mistakes and he said that people wasted
time by asking for information they didn’t need.
Next, I asked him (19) ........................................................................... a good first impression in an e-
mail. Hamish told me (20) ........................................................................... specific about the subject and
(21) ........................................................................... words like “hello” on the subject line.
On the subject of style, I asked Hamish (22) ......................................................................... in an e-mail.
His suggestion was that we should be as formal as the sender of the original e-mail.
Then we discussed how to use e-mail most effectively. I enquired (23) ............................................
............................................ too many emails and not surprisingly, he said that, yes, they did. He went
on to say that e-mails were for giving and confirming information and he told me (24) ...............................
............................................ them for negotiations.
Finally, I asked him (25) ........................................................................... their employees’ e-mails.
Apparently, some businesses are concerned that employees might be selling secrets to competitors.
