TypeTalk is a regular blog on typography. Post your questions and comments by clicking on the Comments icon above. If Ilene answers your question in the blog, you'll receive one Official Creativepro.com T-Shirt!

Q. Are there any guidelines for type in emails? Should the same conventions for print apply to emails?

A. Email and print are indeed different, and although some conventions remain the same between the two, others require a different approach due to the nature of the technology. Here are some general guidelines:

* Use universal system fonts installed on most computers, such as Arial, Times, Verdana, Trebuchet, and Geneva.
* For better readability, use a line space instead of indents to separate paragraphs.
* Don’t type in ALL CAPS, as that's considered SHOUTING and is rude.
* Avoid more sophisticated typography -- typographer’s quotes and apostrophes, en and em dashes, and bullets -- that your readers' email applications may mistranslate as nonsense characters. Stick to the QWERTY keyboard layout to avoid these unexpected and unpredictable results.
* Avoid poor grammar and shortcuts, such as using the numeral 2 instead of spelling out "too."
* Spelling and punctuation count! Use your spell checker or risk coming off as uneducated and unprofessional.
* Use acronyms (LOL or BTW, for instance) and emoticons (winks, smiley faces) sparingly or not at all for business emails.
* Put URLs on a separate line for improved readability.
* Keep your email message brief; a reader’s attention span for lengthy email is much shorter than for print.

For technical advice on designing HTML email messages that work well across a variety of email readers, see " Design HTML E-Mail Templates That Won't Fail."

Love type? Want to know more? Ilene Strizver conducts her acclaimed Gourmet Typography workshops internationally. For more information on attending one or bringing it to your company, organization, or school, go to her site, call The Type Studio at 203-227-5929, or email Ilene at info@thetypestudio.com. Sign up for her e-newsletter at www.thetypestudio.com.