5. Layout of emails is something few people pay attention to, especially if (like me) their system uses text only. However even with simple text a sensible layout can make whole thing more readable. Above all, you should avoid writing emails that sprawl all way across screen. Those are very hard to read and to be able to see everything properly as text, your reader may have to fiddle about changing fonts. The safest format to use consists of lines no more than 65 characters long. That fits, works everywhere and makes email much easier on eye.

6. Your subject line should focus on what's in it for reader so it grabs their attention. You'll find that best way to do that is to include some sort of benefit. For example, if you're writing an email about a downwardly-revised project budget, instead of saying "Project X - revised costs" say "Project X - costs reduced by XX%"). If there isn't a genuine benefit to use, try to make it interesting and intriguing anyway. Also, avoid words most hated by spam filters like "free," "subscribe," etc. 7. Online writing has to be kept concise and clear, largely because screen is a particularly unfriendly reading medium for most people's eyes. If only for that reason KISS principle (Keep It Short & Simple) is useful. With emails you need to get straight to point and keep to it. Someone who receives dozens of emails per day doesn't have time to wade through a lot of preamble. By making your point concisely you'll stand greatest possible chance of avoiding undignified fate of being deleted.

8. As far as writing style is concerned, here more than with any other medium it's very, very helpful to write as people speak. In addition, it will make your email clearer and more concise if you leave out all but essential adjectives and adverbs. Keep your sentences short, and only ever include one main idea or thought per sentence. Paragraphs shouldn't consist of more than 6 sentences max - fewer if possible. And if you list more than a couple of items, use bullet points.

9. If you write emails for business, make good use of signature facility that goes after your name. It's surprising just how many people fail to use that facility properly - yet it's an excellent opportunity for you to put across a few words of promotion. Because email signature appears at end, your recipients are not likely to be irritated by it. In fact provided that it contains useful contact information it will be seen as a helpful addition to your message. And even if your email is text only you can still make it look reasonably smart.

Whoever they are and wherever they come from, people will usually identify with a situation. Take this one for example...

Some people are driving along at night and are stopped by a police car. The officer goes to driver and warns him that one of rear lights on his SUV isn’t working. The driver jumps out and looks terribly upset. The officer reassures him that he won’t get a ticket, it’s just a warning, so there’s no problem. “Oh yes there is a problem,” says man as he rushes towards back of car. “if you could see my rear lights it means I’ve lost my trailer.”

As butt of joke is broken rear light and loss of trailer, not policeman or driver, no-one can be offended. And most people can identify with how that would feel.

The other key issue with humor is wordplays, puns, and anything else that’s based on figurative speech, slang, or jargon. The short answer is they don’t work internationally. However if play or double entendre is in concept rather than words, it probably will work.

These may be funny to us, but would not be understood by anyone who is not a good English speaker because there is a play on words:

* Deja moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before. * The two most common elements in universe are hydrogen and stupidity.

These, however, probably would be understood because humor is in concept, not in words themselves:

* You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. * The trouble with doing something right first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was.

Overall, I think it’s wise to use humor as a spicy condiment in your business comms. And just as you would with chili powder, use it in moderation if you don’t know audience well ... and if you know they have a very sensitive palate, don’t use it at all!