Since e-mail is here to stay, now is time to come up with some sensible terms to describe it - let's start sending each other e-notes - that's a quick and efficient term to describe a quick and efficient method of communication!

Just because we're using a system that is fast, doesn't mean that we have to become lazy in our use of language. Because it's so easy to send an e-note to one person or a thousand people, temptation is to treat e-mail more as if it's a note on fridge door, than as a legitimate, serious form of communication.

You scribble a note to stick on fridge door to tell your kids to feed dog before they go to music lessons:

Feed Spot be4 u go xxxx Mum

Your daughter leaves a note that she's gone next door to do her homework:

At Kath's - hist test 2morrow - ugh! Seeya

We know what these messages mean, but they're hardly sort of thing you want anyone outside family to see and yet, every day thousands - millions - of messages just like this are flying through cyberspace! Messages that use symbols, numbers and abbreviations to convey complex ideas and thoughts.

Need info on midi sites pronto. Pls send all URLs 2 me.

IMHO best site on web is here.com Wish I had their hits LOL

Me too ;)

Not everyone is familiar with use of abbreviations, symbols and 'emoticons' and it's very easy to miss subtleties of meaning. E-mail IS a legitimate form of communication these days - and there are a number of conventions that have emerged to govern its use. Read about how to avoid costly and embarrassing mistakes in your e-mail.

The Internet has made it possible for us to communicate with people from all over world - and only way those people can form an opinion about us, is by looking at way we write. If you feel that you could do with a refresher course in writing, or just a few tips to improve your expression, then visit http://www.write101.com and spend some time reading free articles on site.

3. The deletion problem ----------------------- A further privacy issue surrounding e-mail involves what happens when you delete an e-mail message. You might expect that deleting an e-mail message removes it irretrievably. This is often not case. though.

In fact, it's a tough job to delete every copy of a piece of e-mail. There are many ways that a "deleted" e-mail message might still be accessible:

1. Daily or weekly backups of mail server may still contain messages that were subsequently deleted.

2. When you delete an e-mail message, many e-mail programs simply move it to a trash folder, rather than actually deleting it. It's not until you select their "Empty Trash" command (or similar) that message is actually deleted.

3. Even after you empty your trash folder, many network-based e-mail programs still archive deleted messages for a period of time before deleting them. During this archival period (30-90 days is typical) message could be available to unscrupulous or unauthorised individuals.

4. Even after a file is deleted from a computer's hard disk, information is often still available until that portion of disk's surface is overwritten with new information. During this period deleted files could be available to unscrupulous individuals with physical access to computer.

5. Even if you take steps to avoid all potential problems above, remember that e-mail message is probably still available on PC of person you sent it to (or who sent it to you).

4. Conclusions -------------- The moral of this story is clear: e-mail is not a private medium. Don't send messages by e-mail unless you're comfortable assuming that they may be read by people other than intended recipients.

So next time you go to press that "Send" button, ask yourself "Am I okay with this being seen publicly?" If not, pick up phone!