154 Essential Skills for Health Careers Success
• Keep your message focused. E-mails are meant to be short and to
the point. Long, rambling messages may be only partially read or
ignored.
• Identify yourself. When e-mailing an instructor, be sure to include
the following: your name; the course name and its section number (if
it has one); the days on which the course is offered; and your brief,
focused message. Do not assume that the instructor knows immedi-
ately who you are by your name.
• Do not e-mail an angry message. If you fi nd yourself e-mailing in
anger, resist the urge. Ask the intended recipient (maybe it is your
instructor or supervisor) politely if you may have a meeting with
them concerning the topic you wish to discuss. By the time you have
the meeting, you may have calmed down and will be able to speak
rationally.
• Proofread your e-mail. Your point will be taken more seriously if you
express yourself intelligently with excellent spelling and grammar.
• Be courteous. When asking for assistance and requesting a response,
thank the sender by saying something like, “thank you for your quick
response,” or “I appreciate your assistance in this matter.”
• Do not assume that your e-mail is private. Your message can be
easily intercepted. Do not include any private information about a
patient. Be professional in your communications and refrain from
gossiping.
• Avoid any fancy fonts. Keep your message clear by using a standard
font such as Times New Roman or Helvetica.
Grammar Review
When speaking or writing, using correct grammar helps you send a
clear message that is easily understood. Grammar is the study of how
words and their components combine to form sentences. Writing that con-
tains grammatical errors makes the writer appear uneducated. As harsh
as this seems, there are many times when individuals are judged simply
on the basis of poor writing skills and grammatical mistakes. Poor gram-
mar can cause setbacks in certain situations, including your education and
career.
It is important that you proofread, or review, your writing for gram-
matical errors. However, proofreading your own work is not effective if
you do not know grammar rules or the correct spelling of words. You will
present an unprofessional image to potential employers, patients, and
coworkers if your writing has grammatical errors, misused words, and
spelling mistakes. Instead of relying on a friend to review your work, use
an online grammar check program, read a grammar reference book, and
edit your writing once more.
grammar
the study of how words and
their components combine
to form sentences