In this fast-paced world, we seem to have forgotten how to say "thank you." How often have you bought a graduation or wedding gift and never received a thank-you note? Have you ever spent time looking up information for someone on the Net, then not received a simple "thanks"?

How do you keep from getting flammed on lists? If you're new to the Net, learning some "netiquette" will keep you out of trouble on lists or newsgroups, plus help you make and keep your friends.

Let's begin at the Netiquette Home Page, where you can learn the basic rules for netiquette. A very important rule is to respect others' time and bandwidth. For example, if you're forwarding a piece of mail, take off the forwarding address to where your recipients will only see the "meat" of the message. No one likes to scroll through line after line of forwarding addresses to get to a one-sentence e-mail.

What about e-mail etiquette? Should you write in ALL CAPS? Do you use salutations in e-mail? Can you send a mass-mailing advertisement to everyone you know, including newsgroups and lists? Visit E-Mail Etiquette for the answers to these questions and more.

At Etiquette International, you'll find a wide variety of articles on business etiquette, such as how to prepare for an international business trip, how to offer a toast, tips on negotiating effectively, and the art of gift giving.

Less than 10 percent of interviewees ever follow up a job interview with a thank-you note, but just think what a positive impression it would make to your potential employer. Stop by The Importance of Thank You Notes to learn how to write a thank-you note, whether it should be typed or handwritten, and whether it can be sent by e-mail.

Parents, it's so important to teach your children how and when to write thank-you notes. Visit Being Courteous to the Gift Giver to learn how to help your children learn to write those important notes.

If you're a bride, Wedding Planning & Etiquette emphasizes that one of the most important duties you have is the sending of thank-you notes to everyone who has sent you a wedding gift. This site offers tips on etiquette for the entire bridal party.

Finally, if someone does something nice for you on the Net, let them know they're appreciated by sending them an online thank-you note by Awesome Cybercards.

Robin Nobles is a freelance writer who can be reached at robinnobles@robinsnest.com.

Back to Main Articles Page