Tip of the week # 504
9 January 2017

How to get people to open your email (Microsoft Outlook) ^*

Last week I told you about the fact that if you want people to read your email message, sending it on a Tuesday morning apparently is the best time. Well, there's more ... Research has shown that emails sent on Mondays contain more mistakes than those sent on any other days. It also states that making an error in the subject line translates into a 5 percent decline in the likelihood the message will be opened. So I felt it was time to dust off an oldie but a goodie ... how to configure Outlook so that it automatically checks for spelling mistakes - including the subject line.

Here's how:

1. Click on the File tab and select Options.
2. Press M or click on the Mail category. (The second one.)
3. Select the Always check spelling before sending check box.
4. Select the Ignore original message text in reply or forward check box. (You obviously do not want to correct somebody else's spelling mistakes, do you?)
5. Click OK.

Next time you send a message, Outlook automatically checks for spelling mistakes and prompts you if there are any.

^* Unless stated otherwise, these tips were written for Microsoft Office 2010.