1.6 Netiquette: Guidelines for Online Postings

Guidelines for Online Postings

Following these guidelines for public writing can help you avoid embarrassment later:

Know your Context

• • • Introduce yourself.
    • Avoid assumptions about your readers. Remember that culture influences communication style and practices.
    • Familiarize yourself with policies on Acceptable Use of IT Resources at your organization (for example, see Central Oregon’s acceptable use policy).

Remember the human

• • • Remember there is a person behind the words. Ask for clarification before making judgement.
    • Check your tone before you publish.
    • Respond to people using their names.
    • Remember that culture and even gender can play a part in how people communicate.
    • Remain authentic and expect the same of others.
    • Remember that people may not reply immediately. People participate in different ways, some just by reading the communication rather than jumping into it.
    • Avoid jokes and sarcasm; they often don’t translate well to the online environment.

Recognize that public writing is permanent

• • • Be judicious. What you say online is difficult to retract later.
    • Consider your responsibility to the group and to the working environment.
    • Agree on ground rules for text communication (formal or informal; seek clarification whenever needed, etc) if you are working collaboratively.

Avoid flaming by researching before reacting

• • • Accept and forgive mistakes.
    • Consider your responsibility to the group and to the working environment.
    • Seek clarification before reacting.
    • Ask your supervisor for guidance.*

Respect privacy and original ideas

• • • Quote the original author if you are responding to a specific point made by someone else.
    • Ask the author of an email for permission before forwarding the communication.

Additional Resources

• “Email Etiquette.” Purdue OWL.

• “Technical Communication Etiquette” by Theresa Pojuner, Managementhelp.org.

This chapter was created by Annemarie Hamlin, Chris Rubio, and Michele DeSilva, Central Oregon Community College
from Communicating Online: Netiquette by UBC Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology [License: CC: BY-SA 4.0]