很多人认为Email是传统信件的网络形式，其实事实并非如此，Email并非是传统信件的电子或者网络形式，发送Email时与传统意义上的信件并不一样。例如Email应该以内容点为分隔，而不是段落。学术界关于Email虽然也有争论，但是以下几点还是普遍都认可的。
不要询问显而易见的问题
在询问问题之前，先学会Google或度娘，找不到了再发送邮件询问。如在邮件中询问论文格式了，投稿样式了等等诸如的问题，完全可以在网站上找到或者搜索到。问这样的问题只能降低自己的智商。
题目
Email的题目应该言简易赅，让读者一下子就能了解信件内容。
可能编辑每天收到大量的邮件，光处理邮件就花费大量的时间。因此，邮件题目说的模棱两可能让人冒火。有时间题目可能看上去不太礼貌，其实并非如此。如果坚持认为是虽然题目一下子点出了Email的内容，但是欠缺礼貌，也没关系，可以在邮件内容中加上「Thanks！」
内容以点为分隔，而非段落为分隔
一个内容一行，不要以段落为分隔。
以点为分隔的好处在于收信人一下子就能抓住信件的内容。
不要以传统的段落写Email，你还想让编辑们没事给你提取主要内容，外加中心思想去？编辑们没这空。
另外，重要点之间建议以空行为分隔，这样看上去更能让读者抓住重点。
例如：不要这样写
I had some ideas about using X to do Y. Is that possible? It doesn't seem possible to do X without doing W. I also thought we might be able to do A. I saw paper on B. Did you read it? I really like Q because R, S and T.
其实应该这样写更好：
I had some ideas about using X to do Y. Is that possible?
It doesn't seem possible to do X without doing W.
I also thought we might be able to do A.
I saw paper on B. Did you read it?
I really like Q because
1. R；
2. S；and
3. T.
回复邮件也要据点回复
回复邮件时，也要据点回复。如果回复邮件时同联系人有讨论，不要把讨论内容放在邮件的前面，应该根据每个问题逐个说明。
例如不应该这样写：
You can't use X to do Y, but you can do Y with U and V. You're right about X and W. Agreed - we might be able to do A. I haven't seen the paper. Can you send it? Q is nice, but R is too expensive and S will take too long. T is feasible.
Your friend wrote:
> I had some ideas about using X to do Y.
> Is that possible? It doesn't seem possible to
> do X without doing W. I also thought we might
> be able to do A. I saw paper on B. Did you
> read it? I really like Q because R, S
> and T.
应该这样写：
> I had some ideas about using X to do Y. Is that possible?
No, but you can use U and V instead.
> - It doesn't seem possible to do X without doing W.
That's right.
> I also thought we might be able to do A.
Agreed.
> I saw a paper on B. Did you read it?
No. Can you send it?
> I really like Q because
I like it too.
> (1) R;
Too expensive.
> (2) S; and
That will take too long.
> (3) T.
That's feasible.
但是如果问题就一个或者就其中的一个问题进行回复，可以把回复内容放置在最前面，但是把其它不相关的内容建议全删除掉。
把行动纲目放置在最前
如果回复邮件中有必须做的事情，把这些事情放置在最前，而不是融于整个信件内容之中。这样可以让读者对于要做的事情一目了然。
例如不应这样写
page of text on who is eligible for X
Can you send nominees for X before date Y?
应该这样写：
Action item: Send nominees for X before date Y.
page of text on who is eligible for X
根据内容重要程度排序
一封Email中内容的重要程度是不同的，应该把最重要的东西放在最前面，把最不重要的东西放置最后。
假设读者只能注意到邮件只有前5行，那就把最重要的东西放在这5行之内。
回复人
当回复邮件时，先选择回复全部人。
当写完邮件时，再决定确切回复谁，把不需要回复的人删除掉。另外如有新人联系人要回复，也需要添加上。
礼貌
不要忘了在邮件中加上「请」「Please」「谢谢！」「Thank you」之类的客气词。
现在和以往不同了，「Thanks!」要比「Sincerely」看上去更真诚一些。
本文编译于http://matt.might.net/articles/how-to-email/