What to do before sending an email

- Ever find yourself in that mindset of trying to clear out your email inbox quickly, but because you're in a rush, you make a mistake in replying? Then you have to send a follow-up email to clean up your mistake. I think we all have. There's a simple trick to make sure this doesn't happen to you. Count to 10 before you send. Cultivate the habit at the end of every email to pause, count to 10, and review your work. What are you reviewing? First, check the subject line, and make sure it's on topic and typo-free.

Second, check the body of your email for any obvious mistakes. Many email programs have a built-in spellchecker. So if you see any red squiggly lines warning you of a potential error, resolve them. Third, make sure you're not sending an emotional email. Email is for information and tasks. Conversations are better for emotion. So if what you're trying to convey is your opinion on a sensitive subject, perhaps a phone call or even a video email would be better.

Last, check for attachments. If you said you would send someone something in the email, double-check that the link is correct or the file is properly attached. One extra tip, some email programs, such as Outlook on the Web and Gmail, have an option for Undo Send. This provides a small delay before an email is delivered. And during that delay, you have the opportunity to click Undo Send if you change your mind.

I've found that useful on many occasions. Remember, take a moment to review that email. Count to 10 before you send.