Email Etiquette

I wrote a series of articles a few years ago on Email Etiquette and they’ve been published all over the web and in a number of printed publications in different countries.

I received the following email this week and I reprint it here with permission from the sender and intend to use this as an introduction to the series here. So I’ll be republishing the entire set via this blog for others to view, read and comment as they see fit.

Hi Kathie,

I enjoyed reading your articles about email etiquette. I had a specific question and you just may have my answer. I don’t know if you offer advice like this, but it’s worth a shot. My boss wants me to start sorting his emails and answering them on his behalf. The answers will be his thoughts, but my words. How would you suggest that I sign these emails so that this is clearly conveyed to those reading the responses? Thanks for your time.

Tiffany Sorenson
Assistant to Pastor Tom and Pastor Jason
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Grove City
www.gcvineyard.org

My answer to Tiffany:

Hi Tiffany, so nice to hear you enjoyed my articles. Where did you see them? I have them published in a number of places.

I don’t usually advertise I offer advice but I do get requests for it from time to time. What would be good is if I put the series on my blog and then added your question to prompt them from others – if that’s ok with you?

If your boss is the Pastor you have mentioned below, the Pastor’s assistant from my church always sends from his address and signs off with his name, and includes her’s as well. I was looking for a copy to show you, but I haven’t got any saved. I think that similar to what you have below is fine, but perhaps you could put something like:

Tiffany Sorenson
on behalf of
Pastor Tom, etc

That way the receiver knows that you’re responding on his behalf.

When I worked in the corporate world I used to sign off letters for my boss and in that instance I would put his signature block, but sign my name above it, then add ‘for‘ beside his name. I hope that makes sense?

So good to hear from you. KMT