11–20 of 58 posts
For example, the "really" in "really appreciate" isn't useful.
Also the last sentence in the "summarized" version reads: "If for any reason you haven't let, let me know..." I would also that that the "for any reason" is not useful, it is again implied.
You don't need "by now", it is implied.
As an FYI, some bad English on the Hooli Onboarding Email example:
If for any reason you haven't let, let me know and I'll make sure you get them.I'm reminded of the recent post on HN showing that long, personalized emails reduced email conversions, and that short, pinpointed emails increased conversion. Long emails give the impression that one is either a program or desperate, and no one takes the time to read the entirety of every email they receive.
Author here. If you're talking about https://www.gkogan.co/blog/increase-reply-rates/ , this was a primary inspiration for this project -- I even stole the name ;)
(1) sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way
(2) even in the examples you give it misses potentially important context. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary? Why is the number of members what it included?
Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use.
My preference would be having it suggest shorter versions of each paragraph inline or something.
Neat idea, I could definitely be more terse in my comms. As an FYI, some bad English on the Hooli Onboarding Email example: If for any reason you haven't let, let me know and I'll make sure you get them.
I like the idea of this product but (1) sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way (2) even in the examples you give it misses potentially important context. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary? Why is the number of members what it included? Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use. My preference would be having it sugges…
Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use. I like the idea of this product but sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way. My preference would be having it suggest shorter versions of each paragraph inline or something. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary?
However, I also write emails to reduce time spent in conversation, so while I have learned to be more terse, when I'm not, it's to provide references so that I can shorten or preclude a conversation.
An ML email shortener is a fantastic idea for business comms, with the caveat that short email culture can also reward vagueness.
I like the idea of this product but (1) sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way (2) even in the examples you give it misses potentially important context. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary? Why is the number of members what it included? Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use. My preference would be having it sugges…
I like the idea of this product but (1) sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way (2) even in the examples you give it misses potentially important context. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary? Why is the number of members what it included? Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use. My preference would be having it sugges…
For anyone curious, the summary of this comment was: Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use. I like the idea of this product but sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way. My preference would be having it suggest shorter versions of each paragraph inline or something. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary?
I like the idea of this product but (1) sometimes a BIT of a personal touch goes a long way (2) even in the examples you give it misses potentially important context. Eg In the board message example, it removes a reminder of the topics. How could you know those weren't necessary? Why is the number of members what it included? Just doesn't seem ready for prime-time for this use. My preference would be having it sugges…
I actually got myself into trouble a couple of years back because of this. I've been working with Norwegians almost my whole working life, and am used to being terse, direct and honest. Aside from that, I'm an extrovert, and don't talk unless I have something to say.
Anyway, then I got placed as tech lead for a UK project, working remotely. Within a week, the PM had made a complaint to my manager that I was being glib and not listening to other points of view.
I had no clue where any of this had come from, and sat down with the PM to try to understand - if I'd given the wrong impression, I wanted to fix it. Anyway, we looked back through piles of emails, and in every single case it was a misunderstanding of my real intentions that was directly linked to terseness.
From then on I've tried to gauge my audience better - always using salutations, using longer sentences to say the same thing, trying to be softer etc. I think by and large this has been successful, although I am finding recently my emails tend to be too long...