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Erin Booth

Did you know that it’s estimated that workers receive an average of 80 emails per day? Email is now the preferred mode of business communication, which means everyone must be able to share information quickly, clearly, and with complete accuracy.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

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Did you know that it’s estimated that workers receive an average of 80 emails per day? Email is now the preferred mode of business communication, which means everyone must be able to share information quickly, clearly, and with complete accuracy.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

Welcome to the course, Email Etiquette for Administrative Assistants. While this course was designed for all types of admin, including in-office executive assistants, virtual assistants, and even personal assistants, anyone who writes daily emails as part of their job will learn from this course. This course is also perfect for all levels - from beginners - to pros who want to brush up on email correspondence skills.

Given that there’s an increased responsibility for administrative assistants to have great writing skills, this course covers everything from business etiquette to writing for clarity, to how to respond to confusing requests, to boundary setting.

THIS COURSE INCLUDES 

This course is comprised of both video and text-based learning. It also includes lots of bonus material, like scripts to help you craft perfect email and tools to help you create templates for repetitive emails. It's packed with quizzes to test comprehensive and hands-on activities to help you take your email from zero to hero.

ABOUT  I became a remote VA nearly a decade ago and now help other assistants run lucrative and successful assistant businesses. Thanks for joining me on this email journey. This course is going to help you be the best colleague you can be - and I’m excited to see you in the course.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Write better emails, faster.
  • Use email to increase productivity.
  • Build your professional reputation through email communication.
  • Adapt your emails to accommodate different audiences and work situations.
  • Compose clear emails for maximum readability, comprehension, and impact.
  • Respond to confusing or unclear emails.
  • Write great subject lines, greetings, sign-offs and signatures.
  • Use the 'to', 'cc', 'bcc' and 'reply all' fields correctly.
  • Set boundaries and say "no" without burning bridges.
  • Write with an appropriate and upbeat "tone"
  • Use templates, undo send, and smart compose features to write flawless emails with confidence.
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Syllabus

Introduction

Hi, welcome to this course email etiquette for Administrative Assistants, I am so thrilled that you’re here. You might be wondering “is this course for me?”

I designed this course for all types of admin in mind: in-office assistants, virtual assistants, personal assistants and everyone in between! Still, let's who you are and how this course will help you.

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Take a look at what we'll be discussing in this section. Don't forget to download your PDF that accompanies this section.

Check out this 5-step process to help ensure that your emails get opened, and get the responses you need!

Which subject lines are the best option? You decide!

Sometimes you need to reply to an existing email but want to change the Subject Line - but changing it in Gmail and Outlook is not a well-known feature. Let's learn how!

Some emails are urgent. Some aren’t. Some need a response right away. Some don’t need a response until next week. But there’s no way for your recipient to know that when an email comes in - unless it’s right there in the subject line.

"I hope this email finds you well." Polite starter or unnecessary filler? Let's find out!

Take 2 minutes to re-work this (real) email using paragraphs.

People are busy - no one has time to reread your emails and try to deduce your point. Fortunately, there’s an easy acronym to help us present information in a clear way. We’re going to SCRAP it!

We’ve established that most people don't read emails the same way they read books - they're going to skim. So including things like headings, bullet points or numbers are a great way to make your email easier to read.

Using flair like bold, italics, and color, are useful ways to add emphasis to emails. Let learn about how each one plays a unique role in email communication.

As writers, we tend to include a lot of extra information for our readers. That’s a mistake. Shorter sentences are easier to comprehend!

Now that we’ve covered basics, from email subject lines to formatting, we’re going to talk about etiquette. Download the accompanying PDF. Feel free to print it out and keep it by your desk, or follow along as you progress through the content.

Knowing what not to include in an email is just as important as knowing what to include.

Learn the difference between "to," "cc," "bcc," and "reply all."

A quick note about the importance of including details in emails, like time zones.

Forgotten attachments? Files that are too large for inboxes? Here are a few tools to help ensure you're attaching documents correctly.

As the saying goes "10% of conflict is due to a difference of opinion and 90% to tone of voice.” Learn how to turn a negative tone into a positive one, every email.

When you’re struggling with how to end an email, it’s best to consider the context. Let's learn about some of the more popular sign-offs, and some to avoid.

Email is effective, but it’s not without its own shortcomings! Download your PDF to follow along over the next several lectures.

Setting boundaries is a must. Let's learn about a simple formula to help you set clear boundaries every email.

Too many emails erode our ability to do high-quality work. Prioritizing can help us reduce the digital clutter. With that, your email inbox might get a bit simpler. Here are a handful of scripts to help you learn to say "no" and prioritize yourself and your work a little more.

Confusing emails leave you in a lurch. You're not quite sure what the recipient needs or how to even correctly respond. Instead, we'll learn how to properly push back.

Let's look at a few tricks for double-checking speller (especially handy if you don't have software that checks spelling and grammar). We'll also take an in-depth look at Grammarly, a free tool that can check grammar, spelling, tone, and even suggest synonyms - right from your inbox.

An effective OOO message can do so much more than let people know you're on holiday. It can help you build long-lasting work relationships, too.

Learn how to create and manage email templates. Say goodbye to repetitive emails!

Undo Send is, frankly, the best email tool out there today. Catch mistakes and recall your email with this quick trick.

Learn how predictive text can help you maintain your tone in an email, and how you can make this feature even more accurate.

Thank you for your time! Let's wrap up.

Now that you're an email etiquette pro, let's put your skills to good use. In this video, you'll learn 4 methods to track down virtually any email address.

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Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Offers practical strategies for crafting clear, concise, and professional emails, which is essential for effective workplace communication and collaboration
Covers essential email functions such as subject lines, greetings, and attachments, which are crucial for conveying professionalism and attention to detail
Explores the nuances of email etiquette, including tone, boundaries, and responding to difficult requests, which are vital for maintaining positive relationships
Includes bonus materials like email scripts and templates, which can significantly streamline email composition and improve efficiency for administrative tasks
Examines the use of 'To', 'Cc', 'Bcc', and 'Reply all' fields, which are important for ensuring that emails are sent to the appropriate recipients
Discusses tools like Grammarly, which may require a subscription to unlock its full functionality, which may pose a barrier to some learners

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Reviews summary

Practical email skills for admins

According to learners, this course is a highly practical and valuable resource for administrative assistants looking to enhance their professional communication. Many students report feeling significantly more confident in their email writing after completing the modules. The content is consistently described as clear, concise, and highly relevant to the day-to-day tasks of an admin role. Reviewers frequently praised the included bonus materials, particularly the scripts and templates, finding them extremely helpful for real-world application, such as setting boundaries effectively. The course is considered a good refresher even for those with prior experience, offering concrete strategies for better workflow and professional reputation through email.
Useful for beginners and experienced.
"Even with years of experience, this course served as an excellent refresher on best practices."
"While some parts were foundational, I still picked up new tips and tools that were very beneficial."
"Great for anyone, whether you're new to the role or need a quick update on email etiquette."
"Provided a solid review and added new insights even for seasoned professionals."
Boosts self-assurance in email writing.
"I feel much more confident now when writing emails, especially when dealing with complex requests."
"This course really helped build my confidence in using proper email etiquette in various scenarios."
"Gained significant confidence in my ability to write professional and effective emails."
"My confidence level in handling business communication via email has greatly improved."
Content is clear and relevant to job.
"The information was presented very clearly and was directly relevant to my role as an admin assistant."
"Easy to understand and straight to the point, covering exactly what I needed for my job."
"Appreciated how the content focused on the specific needs and challenges administrative professionals face."
"The relevance of the topics covered made it easy to see the immediate benefit."
Valuable scripts and templates provided.
"The email scripts for difficult situations, like saying no, are absolute lifesavers!"
"Having the templates ready to go for common emails saves me so much time every day."
"I appreciate the bonus materials, especially the scripts; they are incredibly useful."
"The resources included in the course are practical tools I use constantly."
Offers useful, applicable techniques.
"The course provided practical, actionable strategies that I could immediately implement in my daily work emails."
"I found the techniques for writing clearly and efficiently directly applicable to my administrative tasks."
"Learned so many helpful tips on managing my inbox and communicating more effectively with colleagues."
"This course delivers on its promise of providing practical skills for administrative professionals."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Email Etiquette for Administrative Assistants with these activities:
Review Basic Grammar Rules
Strengthen your understanding of grammar rules to write clearer and more professional emails.
Browse courses on Grammar
Show steps
  • Review grammar rules online.
  • Complete practice exercises.
  • Identify common grammar mistakes.
Read 'Business Writing Today'
Enhance your understanding of business writing principles to craft professional and impactful emails.
Show steps
  • Read chapters on email communication.
  • Take notes on key concepts.
  • Apply principles to email drafts.
Rewrite poorly written emails
Improve your ability to identify and correct common email writing mistakes through practice.
Show steps
  • Find examples of poorly written emails.
  • Rewrite emails for clarity and tone.
  • Compare revisions with original emails.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Develop Email Templates
Create email templates for common administrative tasks to save time and ensure consistency.
Show steps
  • Identify frequently sent emails.
  • Draft templates for each type of email.
  • Refine templates for clarity and tone.
  • Store templates for easy access.
Explore 'The Elements of Style'
Improve your writing style and grammar by studying this classic guide.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read sections on grammar and style.
  • Apply principles to email writing.
  • Practice writing concise sentences.
Review and critique emails
Offer feedback on emails written by colleagues to reinforce your understanding of email etiquette.
Show steps
  • Ask colleagues for email drafts.
  • Provide constructive feedback.
  • Discuss improvements with colleagues.
Create a Style Guide
Develop a personal style guide for email communication to maintain consistency and professionalism.
Show steps
  • Gather email examples.
  • Define style preferences.
  • Document style guidelines.
  • Share style guide with colleagues.

Career center

Learners who complete Email Etiquette for Administrative Assistants will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant provides crucial support to teams and executives, and often acts as a primary point of contact. This role requires exceptional written communication skills, including email proficiency, and this course on email etiquette directly addresses that need. The course emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in emails, as well as boundary setting and effective responses to confusing requests. An administrative assistant will benefit from learning to write clear, concise emails, and use features such as templates and smart compose, which are taught in the course. The course will help those in the administrative assistant role increase their efficiency and productivity.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants provide administrative, technical, or creative assistance remotely and depend heavily on email for most of their communication. A course such as this one on email etiquette offers practical tools that will allow virtual assistants to develop proficiency in writing professional emails. Specifically, the course covers composing clear, concise, and impactful emails, as well as using features like templates and smart compose which helps virtual assistants work efficiently. In addition, the course emphasizes adapting to varied communication needs, responding to confusing requests, and maintaining a positive tone, all essential elements of successful virtual assistance.
Executive Assistant
Executive assistants manage complex schedules, communications, and administrative duties for top-level executives and thus require a strong foundation in effective email communication. This course provides practical skills for writing clear, concise, and professional emails that will be invaluable to an executive assistant. The course teaches how to adapt emails for different audiences, compose effective subject lines, and manage responses, as well as how to set boundaries and maintain a professional tone. The use of templates, smart compose, and other time-saving features discussed here will be useful to an executive assistant as they improve their email productivity.
Office Manager
Office managers oversee the smooth daily operations of an office, and strong communication skills are a must. This course on email etiquette will be particularly useful for an office manager because it provides a framework for ensuring clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in all written communications. The course covers techniques for writing effective subject lines and sign-offs, as well as strategies for responding to confusing requests and setting clear boundaries. The skills taught in this course are vital for an office manager who needs to communicate efficiently with employees, vendors, and clients.
Project Coordinator
Project coordinators are in charge of organizing and managing project-related tasks and communication, and the ability to communicate clearly via email is essential for them to keep team members and stakeholders informed. A course on email etiquette helps a project coordinator build a foundation in composing clear, concise emails, adapting communication for various audiences, and using templates for standard messages. Moreover, such a course will help a project coordinator manage email overload and prioritize tasks, as well as respond effectively to confusing or unclear emails, all of which are taught here. This course emphasizes the use of specific email functions to write efficient and effective emails.
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative regularly interacts with clients via email, and this course will be helpful for learning to craft clear, professional, and efficient messages. This course on email etiquette is particularly useful for those working as customer service representatives, as it emphasizes writing with clarity, setting boundaries, and maintaining an upbeat tone. The course will help a customer service representative adapt their emails to specific situations, respond appropriately to various requests, and use email tools to increase efficiency. The course emphasizes writing clearly and responding to confusing communications, which is essential in this role.
Human Resources Assistant
Human resources assistants handle sensitive information and must maintain a high level of professionalism in all correspondence. A course on email etiquette should help a human resources assistant write emails with clarity and an appropriate tone, setting clear boundaries, and responding to potentially confusing communications. The course covers the use of email features to improve efficiency, such as templates and smart compose. These are particularly helpful for human resources assistants, who often send similar types of emails repeatedly. This course teaches how to use the 'To', 'Cc', 'Bcc' and 'Reply all' fields correctly, which is also a crucial skill for this role.
Marketing Assistant
Marketing assistants often communicate with clients, vendors, and team members through email, and this course can help them write professional correspondence. Given that email is a primary communication tool in marketing, this course will help a marketing assistant develop skills in creating clear, engaging emails that maintain a professional yet upbeat tone. The course also covers adapting communication for different audiences and using email effectively to increase productivity. Marketing assistants can utilize the course's instruction on using templates and smart compose for consistent and efficient communication.
Communications Coordinator
A communications coordinator plays a key role in crafting and distributing information, and often relies on email to send internal and external communications. This course on email etiquette may be useful for a communications coordinator as it provides strategies for writing clear, effective emails and adapting them to different audiences. The course also touches on techniques to maintain a professional tone, respond effectively to unclear requests, and use various email features to improve efficiency. The skills taught in this course are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of all communications.
Recruiter
Recruiters frequently communicate with job candidates and hiring managers via email, and this course may be useful for individuals who want to improve their email communication. A recruiter needs to craft clear and professional emails when reaching out to potential candidates, scheduling interviews, and providing updates. This course offers various strategies for writing effective subject lines, using templates to save time, and responding to confusing inquiries. The course helps recruiters ensure their communications are professional and effectively convey the required information.
Sales Representative
Sales representatives use email extensively to engage with leads, nurture relationships, and close deals. A course on email etiquette may be helpful to sales personnel who wish to improve their written communication. This course's instruction on composing clear, concise, and persuasive emails will help sales representatives communicate effectively with customers and potential clients. The course helps a sales representative adapt their email style for different situations, respond to varied inquiries, and maintain a consistent and positive tone when communicating via email.
Training Coordinator
Training coordinators frequently use email to communicate with participants and facilitators about training schedules, materials, and requirements, and this course may be useful for those who want to enhance their written communication. The course provides practical skills for writing clear, concise emails, adapting to different audiences, and responding to various inquiries. A training coordinator could use this course to hone their abilities to use email tools to increase efficiency, such as templates and smart compose. A training coordinator will learn to write emails that are both clear and professional.
Paralegal
Paralegals often handle written correspondence with clients, courts, and other legal professionals, and this course may be useful for improving their email communication skills. The course emphasizes the importance of clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in emails, which are all critical for legal correspondence. A paralegal may benefit from the course's instruction on setting boundaries, responding to confusing emails, and using templates to handle repetitive communications. The course teaches how to compose effective emails and adapt them for different situations.
Academic Advisor
Academic advisors communicate with students through email, providing guidance and support, and this course may be useful to improve their written communication. Clear, concise, and professional emails are essential for advisors who need to convey important information and instructions to students. This course provides tools for adapting emails to different situations, responding to confusing requests, and maintaining a positive tone. An academic advisor can use the features covered in the course, such as templates and smart compose, to improve their overall efficiency.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers often communicate with clients, influencers, and other team members primarily via email, and this course may be useful for improving their writing skills. The course covers how to compose effective subject lines, structure emails for clarity, and manage email communication efficiently. A social media manager may find this course useful as they learn about setting boundaries, responding to confusing requests, and using various email features to improve readability. This course covers essential email communication skills, but it does not completely align with a social media role.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Email Etiquette for Administrative Assistants.
Provides a comprehensive guide to effective business communication, including email. It covers various aspects of writing, from grammar and style to organization and persuasion. It useful reference tool for administrative assistants looking to improve their email writing skills and overall communication effectiveness. It offers practical tips and examples relevant to the course content.

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