• Ask and Ye Shall Receive. Receive permission before sending any large attachments (movies, pictures and sound files are notoriously large). Sending large attachments may cause some inboxes to reach their size limit. If this happens, the recipient must log in and download or delete your message in order to receive any further e-mails from any source – almost guaranteeing they will not think kindly of you from that point forward.

• Be Considerate. Make sure to say “grab a pen” or to repeat your return telephone number twice when leaving a voicemail. Of course, speak up, speak at a reasonable rate and articulate. You can even stand up or smile right before speaking, which has an enormous effect on the tone of your voice and message. Also, when using a cell phone, walk away from your PC or any other equipment which may cause interference with the signal and therefore gaps in your message.

• Be Polite. In e-mails, do not use all CAPITALS as it is considered shouting.

• Be Clear. Do not use acronyms or cryptic shorthand in your messages. Not only will the recipient not understand your message, in many times they will feel “stupid” for not being able to figure it out!

• Keep The Subject Line Intact. When replying to messages, especially to groups and list servs, do not change the subject line. Many e-mail applications allow a sort by subject, giving subscribers the ability to follow a particular discussion “thread” provided the subject line is not altered.

No matter what your life circumstances, it is hard to escape the need to use some form digital communication. I hope these pointers are helpful to you. Comments and feedback always appreciated: andrea@legaltypist.com.