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10 Basic Rules of Netiquette or Internet Etiquette

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Netiquette is short for Internet etiquette. Following online etiquette rules when you use technology helps preserve your relationships and reputation.

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When you're studying online, your contact with peers and facilitators will be through web-based forums and discussion boards. It's worth making sure that you're coming across the way you intend to and that you're a positive addition to your online community.

Here are a few Dos and Don'ts of "netiquette" - or online communication practices - to bear in mind the next time you log on or join in.

Do:

Watch your tone

Digital correspondence is notoriously vague and subject to (mis)interpretation. If you're not careful, you could easily come across as rude, angry or sarcastic, even when that's not your intention. Re-read your comments before posting them to make sure the tone isn't negative.

Emotion icons, such as smiley faces, can help clarify your tone or intention. For example, if you want people to know that you're joking or emphasize that you're not upset, a smile emoticon can go a long way. Use them, but don't overuse them. 

Be generous & collaborative

Don't chime in only when you need help or advice. Be an active participant in your online community. Take the time to read and respond to other people's posts, and provide encouragement and information when you can.

Include a subject line

When you post on a forum, use a brief header that clearly indicates the topic you're asking about or commenting on.

Be friendly

Start your posts with a greeting, and sign off with your name - unless your username makes it clear who you are.

Use good grammar & spelling

No one likes wading through sloppy, incoherent sentences. Also, using proper diction helps make a good impression on your peers, who could well be your future references or colleagues.

Keep it short & sweet

Be clear and concise in what you post.

Don't:

Use coarse, rough or rude language

It's off-putting and unprofessional.

Overuse caps

Writing in all caps is generally frowned upon. You might want to use caps to draw attention to something, but many users interpret it as being yelled at or scolded. Instead, try using asterisks surrounding words you want to highlight.

Rely on first person

Using "I" when you talk in person is one thing, but when you do it too much online, it often comes across as self-centred. Make a point of using "we" or "you" whenever you can; they're more inclusive pronouns.

Flame

Flaming is an online rant. People who flame don't consider the opinions or feelings of anyone else on the forum. Presenting an informed opinion in a diplomatic way is acceptable; lashing out and forcing your preferences on others is not.

Send spam

Discussion boards, forums and online chat rooms aren't the place to promote yourself, your products or your own agenda. Keep your comments focussed on topics that are relevant to your courses and program.

Overuse abbreviations

From texts to posts to instant messages, a lot of online communication is about conveying information as quickly as possible. But using too many abbreviations can be irritating, not to mention confusing. Algonquin College's environment includes people from a wide range of backgrounds and ages who have varying degrees of familiarity with digital trends. A few common abbreviations, such as LOL (laugh out loud), are fine. Just try to minimize them and avoid obscure abbreviations.

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Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology

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Netiquette: The do's & don'ts of online behaviour

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When you're studying online, your contact with peers and facilitators will be through web-based forums and discussion boards. It's worth making sure that you're coming across the way

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Netiquette, or network etiquette, is concerned with the "proper" way to communicate in an online environment. Consider the following "rules," adapted from Virginia Shea's The Core Rules of Netiquette, whenever you communicate in the virtual world.

Rule 1: Remember the Human

When communicating electronically, whether through email, instant message, discussion post, text, or some other method, practice the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Remember, your written words are read by real people, all deserving of respectful communication. Before you press "send" or "submit," ask yourself, "Would I be okay with this if someone else had written it?"

Rule 2: Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life

While it can be argued that standards of behavior may be different in the virtual world, they certainly should not be lower. You should do your best to act within the laws and ethical manners of society whenever you inhabit "cyberspace." Would you behave rudely to someone face-to-face? On most occasions, no. Neither should you behave this way in the virtual world.

Rule 3: Know where you are in cyberspace

"Netiquette varies from domain to domain." (Shea, 1994) Depending on where you are in the virtual world, the same written communication can be acceptable in one area, where it might be considered inappropriate in another. What you text to a friend may not be appropriate in an email to a classmate or colleague. Can you think of another example?

Rule 4: Respect other people's time and bandwidth

Electronic communication takes time: time to read and time in which to respond. Most people today lead busy lives, just like you do, and don't have time to read or respond to frivolous emails or discussion posts. As a virtual world communicator, it is your responsibility to make sure that the time spent reading your words isn't wasted. Make your written communication meaningful and to the point, without extraneous text or superfluous graphics or attachments that may take forever to download.

Rule 5: Make yourself look good online

One of the best things about the virtual world is the lack of judgment associated with your physical appearance, sound of your voice, or the clothes you wear (unless you post a video of yourself singing Karaoke in a clown outfit.) You will, however, be judged by the quality of your writing, so keep the following tips in mind:

Always check for spelling and grammar errors

Know what you're talking about and state it clearly

Be pleasant and polite

Rule 6: Share expert knowledge

The Internet offers its users many benefits; one is the ease in which information can be shared or accessed and in fact, this "information sharing" capability is one of the reasons the Internet was founded. So in the spirit of the Internet's "founding fathers," share what you know! When you post a question and receive intelligent answers, share the results with others. Are you an expert at something? Post resources and references about your subject matter. Recently expanded your knowledge about a subject that might be of interest to others? Share that as well.

Rule 7: Help keep flame wars under control

What is meant by "flaming" and "flame wars?" "Flaming is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion." (Shea, 1994). As an example, think of the kinds of passionate comments you might read on a sports blog. While "flaming" is not necessarily forbidden in virtual communication, "flame wars," when two or three people exchange angry posts between one another, must be controlled or the camaraderie of the group could be compromised. Don't feed the flames; extinguish them by guiding the discussion back to a more productive direction.

Rule 8: Respect other people's privacy

Depending on what you are reading in the virtual world, be it an online class discussion forum, Facebook page, or an email, you may be exposed to some private or personal information that needs to be handled with care. Perhaps someone is sharing some medical news about a loved one or discussing a situation at work. What do you think would happen if this information "got into the wrong hands?" Embarrassment? Hurt feelings? Loss of a job? Just as you expect others to respect your privacy, so should you respect the privacy of others. Be sure to err on the side of caution when deciding to discuss or not to discuss virtual communication.

Rule 9: Don't abuse your power

Just like in face-to-face situations, there are people in cyberspace who have more "power" than others. They have more expertise in technology or they have years of experience in a particular skill or subject matter. Maybe it's you who posesses all of this knowledge and power! Just remember: knowing more than others do or having more power than others may have does not give you the right to take advantage of anyone. Think of Rule 1: Remember the human.

Rule 10: Be forgiving of other people's mistakes

Not everyone has the same amount of experience working in the virtual world. And not everyone knows the rules of netiquette. At some point, you will see a stupid question, read an unnecessarily long response, or encounter misspelled words; when this happens, practice kindness and forgiveness as you would hope someone would do if you had committed the same offense. If it's a minor "offense," you might want to let it slide. If you feel compelled to respond to a mistake, do so in a private email rather than a public forum.

Adapted from The Core Rules of Netiquette Shea, V. (1994). Core rules of netiquette. Netiquette (Online ed., pp. 32-45). San Francisco: Albion Books.

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Netiquette, or network etiquette, is concerned with the "proper" way to communicate in an online environment. Consider the following "rules," adapted from Virginia Shea's The Core Rules of Netiquette, whenever you communicate in the virtual world.

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Netiquette, abbreviation of Internet etiquette or network etiquette, guidelines for courteous communication in the online environment. It includes proper manners for sending e-mail, conversing online, and so on. Much like traditional etiquette, which provides rules of conduct in social situations, the purpose of netiquette is to help construct and maintain a pleasant, comfortable, and efficient environment for online communication, as well as to avoid placing strain on the system and generating conflict among users.

Netiquette includes rules that provide guidance for appropriate social interaction and technical performance online. What constitutes good netiquette varies among the many subcultures of the Internet, and, of course, netiquette issues change with time and technology. Nevertheless, some general principles of proper online manners can be outlined. They include:

Lurking. Lurking means that one reads the posts of a group without participating in the conversation-that is, one assumes the role of a silent reader/observer. Proper netiquette requires some knowledge of the culture of a group in which one chooses to participate; therefore, preliminary knowledge of the group, gained from lurking, is beneficial.

Reading the FAQs. FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions; FAQs also provide answers to these questions. A FAQ is a list of questions that are commonly asked among newcomers. Reading a FAQ before posting helps a new group member to avoid committing the faux pas of asking questions that have already been answered, an act that often generates negative responses from other users.

Remember the Human. Communicating via computers tends to lead people to lose sight of the feelings of, or to be insensitive to, others; consequently, users tend to be more blunt in stating their views than they probably would be face-to-face. Users need to be reminded that although they are communicating online, they are nevertheless dealing with real people who have real emotions.

Avoid Flames. A flame is a message that contains strong personal criticism or attack. Users are advised not to engage in flaming or participate in flame wars. One should treat others the same way that one would like to be treated, and profanity is not good netiquette. A rational tone and a polite manner are preferred.

Avoid Shouting. Typing in ALL UPPER CASE is considered shouting, which is not good netiquette. To emphasize a point, instead of typing in all upper case, one can use _underlining_ or *asterisks* around the text needing emphasis.

Not a Homework Center. Online groups are resourceful arenas; however, users should not use groups as a first resort for information-gathering or as a "quick" source for homework or class assignments. Before going online to ask questions, users should have completed preliminary research by visiting the library or doing a Web search.

Composition Protocols. Users should observe correct grammar and be careful about punctuation and spelling when composing their messages. Online messages should be clear, concise, and organized; an articulate and thoughtful message generates more responses.

Netiquette is enforced by the community at large, as the Internet does not have a policing entity. Users may openly object to breaches of netiquette; if the breach is severe, they may even contact a perpetrator's Internet service provider for recourse.

Shing-Ling Sarina Chen

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Netiquette, guidelines for courteous communication in the online environment. It includes proper manners for sending e-mail, conversing online, and so on. Much like traditional etiquette, which provides rules of conduct in social situations, the purpose of netiquette is to help construct and