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> -----Original Message-----
> From: bounce-techwr-l-219327 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:bounce-techwr-l- 219327 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
> ghupp -at- directcon -dot- net
> Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2005 2:14 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: "Email" vs. "E-mail"
>
>
> Hi list folks,
>
> I'm a new list member and a new-ish technical writer. I have a strong
> background in e-mail software development and administration, so
> e-mail documentation is one focus of my current job search.
>
> In light of this I'm wondering if there is any consensus developing
> (or
> existing) in the technical writing world on whether we use the
> spelling "email" or "e-mail". It seems to me that neither one is
> really grammatically correct, since they both stand for the term
> "electronic mail", but using the full phrase "electronic mail" over
> and over again begins to sound rather stilted.
>
> I suspect that this may still be up to the style guidelines of a
> particular organization. However, right now I'm looking for work and
> so am trying to impress several organizations at once with my proper
> use of grammar. >:-)
>
According to the MS Manual of Style (my company's chosen style guide) it
is properly "e-mail." It is always hyphenated and always a noun, not to
be used as a verb. That is, according to Microsoft--who will find a way
to send the software police after you if you use the term incorrectly...
;-)
Anyway, as you say many companies will have their own style guide, but
since MS is _one_ of the more popular technical style guides, it might
be a somewhat "authoritative" source until a hiring company tells you
they want it used otherwise.
Ken
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