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1/Email is a short word for electronic mail.

You create texts and send them over


a network of computers. The first emails go back to the 1960s. The invention ha
s influenced our lives and emails have become a popular means of communication.
Advantages of emails
Emails are easy to use. You can organize your daily correspondence, send and
receive electronic messages and save them on computers.
Emails are fast. They are delivered at once around the world. No other form
of written communication is as fast as an email.
The language used in emails is simple and informal.
When you reply to an email you can attach the original message so that when
you answer the recipient knows what you are talking about. This is important if
you get hundreds of emails a day.
It is possible to send automated emails with a certain text. In such a way i
t is possible to tell the sender that you are on vacation. These emails are call
ed auto responders.
Emails do not use paper. They are environment friendly and save a lot of tre
es from being cut down.
Emails can also have pictures in them. You can send birthday cards or newsle
tters as emails.
Products can be advertised with emails. Companies can reach a lot of people
and inform them in a short time.

Disadvantages of emails
Emails may carry viruses. These are small programs that harm your computer s
ystem. They can read out your email address book and send themselves to a number
of people around the world.
Many people send unwanted emails to others. These are called spam mails. It
takes a lot of time to filter out the unwanted emails from those that are really
important.
Emails cannot really be used for official business documents. They may be lo
st and you cannot sign them.
Your mailbox may get flooded with emails after a certain time so you have to
empty it from time to time.
2/
Advantages and disadvantages of using email
Advantages
Emails are delivered extremely fast when compared to traditional post.
Emails can be sent 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Webmail means emails can be sent and received from any computer, anywhere in
the world, that has an Internet connection.
Cheap - when using broadband, each email sent is effectively free. Dial-up u
sers are charged at local call rates but it only takes a few seconds (for conven
tional email, eg text only) to send an email.
Emails can be sent to one person or several people.
Disadvantages
The recipient needs access to the Internet to receive email.
Viruses are easily spread via email attachments (most email providers scan e
mails for viruses on your behalf).

Phishing - sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be a legitimate co


mpany to scam the user into providing information, such as personal information
and bank account numbers on a bogus website. The details will then be used for i
dentity theft.
No guarantee the mail will be read until the user logs on and checks their e
mail.
Spam - unsolicited email, ie junk mail.
3/
10 Advantages of Email
1. It's free!
Once you re online, there is no further expense.
2. Easy to reference
Sent and received messages and attachments can be stored safely, logically and r
eliably. It's a lot easier to organize emails than paper.
3. Easy to use
Once you re set up, sending and receiving messages is simple. That goes for a host
of other email functions. Data storage and contacts can be accessed quickly and
easily.
4. Easy to prioritize
Incoming messages have subject lines that mean you can delete without opening. H
ow much time does that save compared to snail mail?
5. Speed
Message to send? Done, under a second! Email is as fast a form of written commun
ication as any.
6. Global
Web based email means you can access your messages anywhere online. Going overse
as? Before you go, mail yourself a copy of your passport number, travel insuranc
e details or your accommodation details.
7. Good for the planet
Actually the advantages and disadvantages of email are clear here. Computers the
mselves aren t 'green', but email offsets some of the damage by reducing the envir
onmental cost of contact.
8. Info at your fingertips
Storing data online means less large, space taking file cabinets, folders and sh
elves. You can access information far quicker if you learn how to use email this
way.
9. Leverage
Send the same message to any number of people. Adaptations are simple, too. If y
ou have a product or service to sell, email is an effective medium to get your m
essage out.

10. Send reminders to yourself


Do you use more than one account? Email yourself messages from work to home or v
ice versa. Does the idea of two or more accounts seem complicated? It's not if y
ou know how to manage multiple accounts.
Used well, email really is a superb communication and productivity tool.
But you clicked to learn the advantages and disadvantages of email.
Here's the flip side...
10 Disadvantages of Email
1. Emotional responses
Some emails cause upset or anger. A reply in the heat of the moment can t be easil
y retracted, but it can cause lasting damage.
2. Information overload
Too many people send too much information. They cover their backs citing need to
know as the justification. Learn how to use email effectively and you ll reduce tim
e wasted on this.
3. Lacking the Personal Touch
Some things are best left untyped. Email will never beat a hand written card or
letter when it comes to relationships.
4. Misunderstandings
Emails from people who don t take the time to read what they write before clicking
send . Time is wasted, either to clarify or, worse, acting on a misinterpretation
of the message.
5. No Respite
Your email inbox is like a garden; it needs to be constantly maintained. Leave i
t and will continue to grow. Ignore it at your peril!
6. Pressure to Reply
Once it s in your inbox, you feel an ever increasing obligation to act on it. Proc
rastinating doesn t making it go away. Do it, dump it or delegate it.
7. Spam
Having to deal with spam and spoofs is one of the worst avoidable time wasters o
nline. Use some anti spam software.
8. Sucks up Your Time
Over checking messages is so common, but it is time wasted on a low value, passi
ve activity. Better to check once or twice a day.
9. Too Long
How long is too long? It s hard to say exactly, but the longer it goes on, the har
der it is to take in. Email is suited to brevity - keep it short and sweet.

10. Viruses
A virus could seriously affect your computer. If you want to know how to use ema
il effectively, it's worth learning how to deal with these.

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