Email has become an integral part of the business world. In many cases a company's entire image is relayed through the way they handle email communications. Because email is quick and easy to send it can be tempting to skip some of the niceties that are vital to effective communication that portrays a professional image.

Well-meant or not, jokes do not translate well in email. The recipient only has the text to go from and may not understand that a lighthearted comment is meant to be funny. It is too easy for an attempt at humor in an email to be misconstrued as something insulting or sarcastic.

It can be tempting to type a quick response and send it immediately without reading it over for grammar, clarity, and spelling mistakes. Always read through a business email at least once to make sure it is correct and clearly says what it is meant to say. Sloppy emails look like....