A small tweak for kinder emails

📤 Today’s tip: Give your email a more human opening line.

Crafting an email that sets just the right tone — warm but not prying, direct but not curt — is an art in even the best of times. And especially now, when everyone’s stretched thin and wound tight, you don’t want to come off sounding like an all-business robot.

One way to convey empathy via email is by starting your message with a recognition of humanity. The communication gurus at Grammarly recently tweeted a few opening-line suggestions:

• “I appreciate you taking the time to read this email.”
• “I wanted to let you know I’ve been thinking about you.”
• “First and foremost, how are you?”

A little emotional validation goes a long way. After all, we’re in this together.

📚 More from Forge on writing better emails:

The Correct Way to Email
Read more >>

Stay Under 5 Sentences, and Other Rules for Great Emailing
Read more >>

The Follow-Up Is the Most Important Email You’ll Ever Write
Read more >>

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