Use of Emoticons in Email

Use of Emoticons in Email

Emoticons--or smiles--can be a lot of fun when emailing people. They can also make sure that people don't get the wrong impression. People can't see you when they read your email so they don't know if you are happy, sad or annoyed. Using emoticons gives them an idea of your mood and therefore there are no misconceptions.

Email 1:

Hi Linda,

I’ll need that memo by 5 today. Thanks.

Sara

Email 2:

Hi Linda,

I’ll need that memo by 5 today. Thanks  

Sara

The only difference is a period in one and an emoticon in the other. And yet, how does each email make you feel? Quite differently, right? The first one reads as a bit demanding and curt. The second has a lighter, more encouraging, feel. In a face-to-face conversation, each person would pick up the other person’s facial cues, negating any misinterpretations.

However, in writing, without emotional cues, humans have a tendency to form a

“negative bias.” When we read something that is objectively positive, we tend to see it as neutral, and when it’s neutral, we see it as negative.

For this reason, emoticons have a lot of power when it comes to communicating effectively. While we often think of business as non-emotional, strong communication is all about understanding emotional cues. The best business people in the world are those who are able to connect with others. But the fact is, while face-to-face interactions are the most successful, we do most of our business communication through writing.

Instructions

Decide to use emoticons. When you first email someone you should be careful using emoticons; however, when you are sending emails to people you know emoticons are usually standard. Business emails shouldn't contain emoticons because you want to look professional.

Set the mood by using emoticons. If you are happy, a happy face can depict this, if you are sad use a sad face and if you are in a playful mood use a wink.

Convey your emotions when using emoticons. Words can take on a much different meaning when you add an emoticon to them. When you write, "What do you want?" if you add an emoticon such as a wink, you will send a different message then the words say.

Understand the different emoticons you can use. You can find emoticons in many forms-- they don't have to be smiles. You can find emoticons in animated, holiday or animal form, for example.

Insert emoticons into your emails. Make sure you email provider supports "Rich Text Editing." Then follow the instructions for inserting graphics into your emails. Some email providers have emoticons on a toolbar that you can use.

Examples:

:-) - basic smiley :) - midget smiley

,-) - winking happy smiley (-: - left hand smiley

(:-) - smiley big face

(:-( - very unhappy smiley ,-} - wry and winking smiley 8-O – Oh my god

'-) - winking smiley :-# - my lips are scaled :-* - kiss

:-/ - skeptical smiley :->- sarcastic smiley :-@ - screaming smiley :-d - said with a smile

:-V - shouting smiley :-X - a big wet kiss :-\ - undecided smiley :-] - smiley blockhead ;-( - crying smiley

>;->- a very lewd remark was just made ;^A) - smirking smiley %-) - smiley after staring at a screen for 15hours straight

):-( - Nordic smiley

3:] - Lucy my pet dog smiley :-&- tongue tied

8:-) - little girl smiley :-)8<- big girl smiley