When you compose, send, or redistribute electronic mail, consider whether you would make identical statements face to face with the person or people who may read your work.  Also consider the following guidelines which will protect yourself and others when writing and sending electronic mail: 

• Write carefully. Once you send an e-mail message, you cannot take it back or make it disappear. The reality is that your messages may be saved for a very long time. They may also be read inadvertently by others, or forwarded to others without your knowledge.
• Use upper and lowercase text. Using all uppercase letters means SHOUTING and can be offensive.  Sign your messages with at least your name.
• Do not overuse the high priority option.  If you overuse the high priority option, it will lose its function when you really need it.
• Address your messages carefully. Some addresses may belong to a group, even though the address appears to belong to just one person.
• Use a meaningful subject.  Try to use a subject that is meaningful to the recipient as well as yourself.
• Respect copyrights. E-mail messages and news posts are included in the types of works that can be copyrighted.
• Be diplomatic. Criticism is always harsher when written, and e-mail can be easily forwarded.
• Be calm. You may have misunderstood what was meant. Don't reply while you're still angry (this is called "flaming").
• Be brief. Don't include background images, pictures, animations, etc. unless they are critical to your message. When replying to a message, you don't have to include the entire text of the original message. Include just enough to give the context of your response.
• Watch out for viruses in attached files.  Attached files are a common way to spread computer viruses.  Opening or running an attachment can infect your computer.