Avoid Email Mishaps

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You never know who could be reading your email.

Washington intern Kelly Tripplehorn broke up with his girlfriend in an ugly email that escaped into the Internet, even ending up on a CNN broadcast. Not only was Mr. Tripplehorn’s embarrassing message quoted, his equally embarrassing email address (tripplehorny@hotmail.com) was revealed. It was subsequently reported that he lost his job over the incident.

In the X-rated e-mail read ’round the world, British publicist Claire Swire used her work email to send intimate commentary to her boyfriend, attorney Bruce Chait. Ultimately, an estimated 10 million people read the message. The story made the front pages of the British tabloids. Ms. Swire, Mr. Chait and his colleagues were all severely disciplined.

In an introduction to their “Digital Blunders” survey, online magazine silicon.com had to confess that one of its reporters, hit “reply” rather than “forward” and sent an unflattering comment back to the executive he was criticizing. The executive had not bothered to read the email—until the reporter called to apologize.

Think before you hit “send”

• If you’re debating whether or not to send something personal, don’t.

• Check the “to” and “cc”  fields.

• Check to see whether you’re clicking on “reply” or “forward”

• Don’t use email to discuss confidential information.

• Never make, or forward, any libelous, sexist or racist comments, even if they are meant to be a joke. 

• If you're angry, save your email in a draft folder for at least 90 minutes before you send it to give yourself a chance to reconsider.

• Assume that whatever you say could end up on the news. It just might.

The antidote to email: a handwritten message