Email

Email vocabulary covers the words and phrases used to write, organize, and manage electronic messages. In business contexts, precise email vocabulary helps you communicate clearly, set expectations, and avoid misunderstandings.

• Terms for message parts: subject, body, signature.
• Action verbs: attach, reply, forward, archive.
• Recipients and fields: to, cc, bcc.
• Organizational terms: inbox, folder, thread.

Use precise terms and standard collocations to keep emails clear and professional.

• Use 'subject' to summarize purpose: start with project or action (e.g., "Project X: Budget approval").
• Use action verbs for clarity: attach, confirm, review, approve.
• Use 'cc' for visibility and 'bcc' for discreet mailing lists.
• Label attachments clearly and mention them in the body.

Consistent wording reduces back-and-forth and speeds up responses.

Avoid errors that can reduce clarity, cause delays, or create confusion in business emails.

• Vague subject lines that don't state the purpose.
• Mentioning an attachment but forgetting to attach it.
• Using CC/BCC incorrectly—this can leak recipients' addresses or cause redundancy.
• Overly long paragraphs or unstructured messages that bury the request.
• Ambiguous calls to action (no clear deadline or next step).

Quick checklist: clear subject, named attachments, recipient fields correct, one clear action.