If you receive a message like this, don't just forward it on. Do everyone a favour and spend a few minutes tidying it up.

6. Don't send unsolicited attachments.

That three megabyte movie file may be funniest thing you've seen for a long time, but don't automatically send it to everyone to know. Ask them first if they want to receive it. Many folks still receive their e-mail via modem, and at three or four kilobytes per second, your three megabyte file is going to lock up their Internet connection for quarter of an hour or so. Be polite and ask first.

7. Ensure that your PC is virus free.

Unless you take suitable precautions (like regularly downloading latest definition file for your antivirus software), you run risk of your machine becoming virus infected. Far worse, you run risk of unknowingly sending virus-infected e-mail messages to everyone in your address book. This is not a way to win friends. 8. Don't type in ALL CAPITALS

There are two reasons for this. First, text in all capitals is harder to read. Second, typing in all capitals is considered a faux pas by most Internet users, and doing so may see your message ignored. 9. Thou shalt not spam!

It doesn't matter how good a deal you've got. It doesn't matter that you're just going to do it once. It doesn't matter that everyone else is doing it. That doesn't make it right for _you_ to do it. Don't send spam.

10. Wait a while before sending your message.

Proofreading your own work is a risky business. I'm a writer and proofreader by profession, but mistakes still manage to slip through in my own writing. The best defence I know is to put my writing aside for a while then look at it afresh. It's amazing what will often just leap out at you.

So if you have time, wait an hour -- or even just ten minutes -- before you press "send" button. This will let you read your message again and, hopefully, spot any typos or other weaknesses before it goes out. Armed with these ten tips, your e-mail should be well received every time. Good luck!

E-mails with no text, and message they wish read is an attachment to E-mail, is another common mistake. If it's not from someone I know, it is immediately deleted. Why should I waste my time opening an attachment in an unsolicited E-mail? If note is in "Doc" format it never gets opened, even if I know person. They could unwittingly be sending me a virus.

One way that works, is to include message in body of E-mail, and attach your HTLM message to note. That way recipient has a choice. Remember - text can be read by all E-mail readers and that is your best bet. Otherwise, you might be simply wasting your time.