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Is using ALL CAPS ever acceptable in email? 12

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ParabolicTet

Mechanical
Apr 19, 2004
69
A user sent me and my bosses an angry email with these words:

"I HAVE PROJECT DEADLINES!!! THIS IS PREVENTING ME FROM MEETING THEM!!"

Thankfully, the issue was something not due my fault or anything and easily fixable. It is fixed now. My question is this kind of writing ever acceptable? I find it unprofessional. The user who wrote this is fairly senior so I can't really talk "face-to-face" about it..

I think many engineers believe in the "squeaky wheel gets the oil".. This is taking it to an extreme in my opinion. Or maybe I am taking it to personally?
 
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What about those on this general subject who never start their sentences with a cap? I say its a form of lazyness. Or maybe stupidity?
 
OldestGuy (grins), wait til you have arthritis like me, you'll be cursing key combinations for ever more! Yeah yeah, sticky keys, even so.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
 
Hey Greg: At 90 I feel darn lucky. You have an excuse. So far I don't. Keep plugging.
 
IF YOU ARE WRITING A BAD REVIEW OF ee cummings, tHEN iT might BE ok.
 
I think that some words should be capitalized if the previous emails didn't get the message through. I think that the following words should be capitalized: DEATHS, EXPLOSIONS, CAVE INS, POTENTIAL LAWSUIT, CATASTROPHIC, UNMITIGATED DISASTER.

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If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.
 
None of which I'd recommend using in an email at work about real projects. Oh, maybe lawsuit is OK, and explosion is part and parcel of some people's work (I always wanted to be a Fireworks Engineer)

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
 
I would take this as a sign that someone has reached their limit on frustrations and is feeling severely stressed. There is an underlying problem that needs to be addressed.

If you are offended by the things I say, imagine the stuff I hold back.
 
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