..so I’ve just read this article about a Chinese space station that the Chinese have actually lost control over (no, this is not a sci-fi horror movie plot. It’s actually happened.)

And it got me to thinking about the risks of sending out business emails without properly editing and proofreading them.

So – what are these risks? Is it really such a big deal to dash off an email once you’ve typed the thing up and gotten your thoughts off your chest?

Mmm..here’s the thing. When your boss/client/team member receives a badly-written email, it can create a pretty scary chain reaction that might go something like this:
 

You get the idea. Lots of fallout.

So, how can you prevent this kind of disaster from happening, with a minimum of fuss?

Easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Check for any spelling/basic grammar errors. These are the basic building blocks of your text and the simplest to edit. (If you’re not a native English speaker, you may want to train up on things like the Present Perfect Simple, conditionals and so forth.)

2. Review the text again for clarity of message. To be 100% sure, ask a friend or colleague to review it, for a truly objective assessment. Is there anything potentially misleading or unclear?
   If so, modify it!

3. Is your language professional enough? Could it sound more sophisticated or assertive? Is it diplomatic enough? How is your sign-off looking? Have you struck the right tone of formality?

Once you’ve done this – do it again. No joke. If the email is important enough to send, it’s important enough to edit twice (I edit mine 3-4 times, but that’s the control freak in me..)
 
By following these simple steps, you’ll send off a clear, well-written and professional email which will hopefully have the desired results..and may even help save the world.