NETIQUETTE BASICS

• Unless your instructor or fellow students have asked you to send a lengthy message or assignment, keep your e-mails and discussion postings short and to the point.
• Using familiar acronyms can help keep messages short. (for example: BTW for "by the way" and FYI to mean "for your information") Using too many or less familiar acronyms, though, can become confusing.
• Focus on one subject per e-mail and put a title in the subject box that clearly indicates what your message is about.
• Keep the number of characters per line to 70 or fewer. In most cases this is automatic, but some word processing programs do not limit line length. If this is the case, you must hit the "Enter" key at the end of each line to keep the line to a readable length.
• Don't worry about formatting e-mail. To make sure your message can be read by everyone, use plain text.
• "Sign" your e-mails (and discussion postings). E-mail addresses do not always indicate the name of the sender. In some cases for even greater clarity, your instructor may also wish you to include your perm. number, the name of your course, and the course section number.
• If you are responding to an e-mail, click "reply." This will keep the "thread" going between the original message and your own. Do not create a new e-mail unless you wish to start a new topic.
• When you reply to an e-mail (or discussion posting), only include the portion of the original message that is pertinent to your reply. Edit out the rest of the original message before sending yours. This helps keep communication clear and concise.
• Do not type your messages in all capital letters. This is considered SHOUTING!
• Never give your username or password to someone else. Those who need it for administrative or technical purposes already have it.
• Do not assume your e-mail is private. If you would say it in public, send it. If not, don't send it.
• Do not publicize your personal commercial interests through the Cypress College academic network or through the online course site where your class resides.
• Do not Spam. Spamming involves sending unsolicited mass-mailing advertisements. It amounts to junk mail and is generally despised on the Internet.
• To underline titles of books, films, songs, artworks, etc. use the underscore symbol before and after the title. (for example: _Hamlet_ )
• Do not send chain letters through the Internet.
• Use sarcasm and humor with care. They are easily misunderstood in writing. To let people know you are being humorous, you can use this sideways happy face :-)
• Be sure all quotes and sources are properly credited. Respect all copyrighted materials.
• Realize that e-mail does not guarantee an automatic immediate response. Allow time for your recipient to get it, to read it, and to finally reply to it.
• Be courteous and professional with your communications. Not only is this polite, but anything you send through the Internet could be read and saved and sent back to haunt you.
• Swearing is unacceptable through the Cypress College academic network and the online course sites used for Cypress College classes.
• Do not be confrontational for the sake of it. Although "flaming" (a critical verbal attack) is not uncommon on the Internet, it is inappropriate in a college online environment. Participating in a flame war (exchanging angry messages) is unacceptable in a college online environment and on the Internet at large.
• Be tolerant of others. The Internet is new and we all make mistakes. If you feel compelled to let someone know they have made an Internet etiquette error, do it politely and through an individual e-mail.