Quick Tip: Stay Away from Sarcasm in Email
Sarcasm can easily cause misunderstandings in the offline world. Online, sarcasm is even harder to detect. You lose the eye contact, body language, and tone of voice that help convey your sarcastic comment.
Add to that, you have to be a pretty good writer to relay sarcasm successfully with the written word. You also have to make sure the level of sarcasm is what you want to portray. Writing is, in fact, a skill.
The primary reason to avoid sarcasm in email is that you leave the level of sarcasm to be determined by the recipient. And that’s pretty risky.
sar-casm n.
- A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
- A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.
If you’re not careful, you’ll find your sarcasm can be amplified tenfold. This can vary based on the situation, relationship, and emotions involved. The recipient may very well read into your sarcastic statement the intent and tone that you did not mean. And much more than you intended.
Emoticons Help with Sarcasm
When you don’t indicate that you are being humorous or sarcastic, it leaves room for misinterpretation. This is where selectively using emoticons can be very helpful.
Trying to be sarcastic or funny? Add a 😉 After your statement, make sure the other side knows you are kidding. Otherwise, your comment will be taken at face value.
Professional email communications avoid sarcasm entirely. I’ve yet to see a situation where sarcasm enhances or clarifies. Instead, your comment could be seen as “rubbing salt in the wound,” condescending, or, worse, unprofessional.
In a personal email, sarcasm can damage relationships and make subsequent communication ineffective. When you want to be sarcastic, think about the result. Ask yourself:
Think first…
If you find yourself being sarcastic in an email, first consider your intentions. Then read your email out loud before clicking send. Twice. You may even want to consider waiting until the next day to see if you feel the same.
Being sarcastic is rarely a positive thing. Your best bet? Unless you are a skilled and experienced communicator, it is best to leave sarcasm out of your emails altogether. Better safe than sorry.
