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Professional Etiquette
NETIQUETTE Using the internet has become commonplace and an inherent part of everyday life, but when communicating electronically, you don’t have the benefit of seeing the other individual, hearing their tone of voice, reading their body language, or noticing other extra cues that aid understanding. Therefore, certain ‘netiquette,’ or internet etiquette, has been adopted over time to maintain professional electronic communication. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when using the internet.
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Don't use or post material that isn't yours without giving credit – Avoid plagiarizing and breaking copyright infringement laws by always giving credit to work that isn’t yours. If you don’t know where it’s from, it’s better not to use it.
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Use mixed-case letters, and standard fonts and colors - Using all capital letters can come across as shouting, and using all lower-case letters can decrease readability. Incorporating mixed case maintains the perception that you’re speaking in a common tone. Sticking with standard fonts and colors can also help with readability and demonstrates professionalism.
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Save GIFs, memes, and emojis for outside the office – Depending on your relationship and the type of communication, it may be acceptable to send an emoji or GIF to a close friend or colleague, but keep them out of any professional communication.
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Follow rules for each forum – Different websites and platforms will have their own guidelines for use that must be followed. Before interacting on a new website forum, social media platform, or a digital community, review the rules of posting and behavior to know what is considered appropriate.
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Keep your social media professional or make it private – Social media is one of the primary forms of communication on the internet, but it’s important to make a distinction early on if you will keep it private or use it professionally. If you keep your account public, watch what you post and remember that anyone can see it, including future employers.
Source: (“Internet Etiquette," 2018)
