The days of the Pony Express are long gone thanks to the development of email. With the click of a button, we can now communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world. However, because we aren’t always sure of the appropriate etiquette for particular situations, this convenience can occasionally be a curse. How to address two people in an email is one such scenario. So let’s talk about the issue, shall we?
Three Key Issues To Address Two People In An Email
- Never sacrifice face-to-face interaction in favor of digital communication. There are times when it cannot be substituted, whether you are breaking up with your boyfriend or asking for a raise at work, and there is a reason why people frequently have to discuss things in person.
- While computers allow us to connect with one another, their impersonal nature can also cause people to say things they wouldn’t normally consider saying in person. Do your best to be courteous, even if that means leaving yourself computer notes that serve as a gentle reminder that you are honorable and considerate.
- There is no going back on anything you say online. After pressing the “Send” button you have no control over where your message goes; it can be saved and forwarded by any recipient who chooses to do so. The words consequently came back to hurt people, end friendships, and ruin careers.
How To Address Two People In An Email?
There are three ways you can format an email if you’re sending it to two people. You can use the formal “To” and/or “CC” fields or the informal “BCC” field. Examine each one to gain a deeper understanding of the craft of emailing.
To and CC fields
The most formal way to address two people in an email is through the To and CC fields. Since you are sending a message to more than one recipient and require them to act on it, you should list their names in the “To” field, separated by commas. For instance: To Jane Doe, John Smith. Remember that the majority of people don’t want their email addresses made public, so use their names instead.
If needed, you can also use the “CC” field to send a copy of the message to additional recipients. The “CC” field is less formal than the “To” field and is usually used for people who are not the primary recipients of the message but need to be kept in the loop. Furthermore, they are not even required to acknowledge receiving the message.
BCC field
The BCC field or the “blind carbon copy” is the informal way to address two people in an email. When you don’t want the two recipients to know that the mail was sent to multiple people, it’s great for those circumstances. With this field invisible to any of the recipients inserted in the “To” and “CC” fields, it is ideal for sending messages to people whose names or email addresses you don’t want to disclose.
How To Greet Two Persons In An Email?
When it comes to email etiquette guidelines for greeting two people in an email, they are similar to those for greeting a single person. The main guideline is to always greet people politely. Naturally, there are different rules for friends and for coworkers.
“Hi,” “Hello,” or “Dear” is always a good way to start a personal email. Additionally, since you are addressing friends, you may use either their first name or their full name to greet them. This is similar to text messaging, but with a little more text and formality. Some of the most common greetings for friends are: “Hi John,” “Hi Jane,” or even “Hey.”
Proper email greetings for colleagues, on the other hand, would be “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” or “Good evening,” followed by the person’s name. Additionally, unless a coworker has requested otherwise, you should always address them by their full name when speaking to them. Even so, it’s always best to be formal and address coworkers by their full names.
You should use the proper title Mr. for coworkers or colleagues., Mrs. or Ms., then their last name. For instance, you would address an email to “Mr. John Smith” or “Ms. Jane Doe,” or if you are unsure of a person’s gender, you can use a title such as “Dr.”, “Prof.”, or “Rev.” followed by their full name. It goes without saying that this is a very formal greeting and should only be used in business emails.
Finally, the most frequent query regarding email salutations is whether to place a comma or a period after the title. In general, if you’re addressing friends or coworkers, a comma is preferable to a period.
How To Write An Email Addressed To Two Persons?
When sending an email to two people, the same guidelines that would be used for a single recipient apply to the subject line and the body of the email. Here, the only uncertainty is whether you are addressing an email to two friends or coworkers.
If the two people are your friends, a personal email would be the best option, while if you are writing to two people who are co-workers, then a business email would be more appropriate and should meet the following criteria:
Subject line: Use a sentence that accurately summarizes the email’s content in the subject line. It should be short and to the point. For example, “Meeting tomorrow at 10 am” or “Regarding the Smith project, a query.”
Text of the email: Concise and direct language should be used in the email’s text. Since everyone is busy, no one wants to read a novel in their email. Stick to the facts and avoid using wordy or flowery sentences. Emoticons and capital letters are also inappropriate for a professional email. Most importantly, remember that you are speaking to two people, so be clear and specific in what you say and what you want them to do.
In terms of formatting, you should indent each paragraph and use a standard font such as Arial or Times New Roman. Remember that bad formatting causes 70% of emails to be deleted, so make sure to proofread your email for spelling and grammar errors before pressing the send button. Additionally, doing this will prevent you from coming across as careless or unprofessional. Finally, be sure to sign off with a friendly closing such as “Sincerely,” “Best,” “Regards,” or “Thank You.”
There are a lot of other topics to cover in order to fully comprehend how email functions because it is such an interesting medium. Now that you are aware of how to address two people in an email, you can use it the next time you are about to send one to make the recipients feel important and valued. A good impression is made in the details, after all.