Regardless of whether you sell SLR Cameras for a living, or you work for a company that manufactures doormats, if you are in the world of business, you need have a solid understanding of correct email etiquette. To begin with, it is vital to remember that whilst email may be a form of communication that is less formal that the old-fashioned paper-and-ink letter, it is by no means necessarily casual in a business environment.

If you are writing to a client or similar in your employed capacity, it is crucial that you maintain an appropriate tone at all times. Start your email with a straightforward address which identifies the person to whom you are writing.

If you are sending out a letter to more than one recipient, you can replace the name with a more general expression – something along the lines of 'valued clients' works well in a sales-orientated or informational pitch. One of the most important things to remember is not to waffle in your business email.

You tone should be neutral at all times, and you should avoid emotive language, slang and profanity. You want to be as direct as possible, to steer clear of verbosity and to maintain good grammar throughout.

Writing emails is so much a part of daily life that often we slip out of the appropriate business register. Remember there is no need to appear stiff or cold in your communications, you simply need to keep your modes of address carefully within certain parameters.