"E-mail" (with a hyphen) is an older, less commonly used variation of electronic mail. "Email" is the contemporary term that has gained popularity in the recent years.
In our digital age, written communication has undergone a transformation, and certain terms have evolved along with it. One such term is "e-mail" or "email." If you've ever wondered whether to use a hyphen or not, or if these terms have distinct meanings, you're not alone.
E-mail (with a hyphen) was once the preferred term when electronic mail was a novel concept. It is a compound noun and represents the abbreviation of "electronic mail" and was commonly used when the practice of sending messages electronically was in its infancy.
Example scenario:
- "He sent me an e-mail with the report attached."
While still technically correct, e-mail with a hyphen is now considered increasingly seen as an older version of email.
Email (not hyphenated) has become more increasingly accepted and also modern way of referring to electronic mail. It's a noun that represents a method of sending digital messages, documents, or files from one computer user to another through the internet or a computer network. As technology has advanced, the use of "email" without a hyphen has become more widely used.
Example scenario:
- "I'll send you an email with the project details."
In this context, email simply denotes an electronic message sent via email services like Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail. It's the preferred term for electronic correspondence in contemporary usage.
Common Idioms/Phrases:
- Inbox Zero: Refers to the practice of keeping one's email inbox empty or close to empty by promptly addressing or archiving incoming emails.
- Example: "I finally achieved Inbox Zero after hours of sorting through my emails."
- Spam Folder: The folder in an email account where unsolicited or unwanted emails, often containing advertisements or scams, are automatically filtered.
- Example: "Check your spam folder; sometimes important emails end up there by mistake."
- CC (Carbon Copy): The act of sending an email to someone other than the primary recipient for informational purposes, typically indicated in the email header.
- Example: "I'll CC you on the email so you can stay in the loop."
Synonyms for email/e-mail:
- Electronic message
- Digital mail
- Online correspondence
- E-message
- Internet mail
In conclusion, the term "email" without a hyphen is the more contemporary way to refer to electronic mail, but the use of email and e-mail is totally up to you, as neither is incorrect. So, go ahead and send that email/e-mail with confidence!
Discover more about the AI English proofreader, Engram!
Reference
Marko Ticak
Share Article
