This document introduces the use of standardized email subject tags to provide clarity of purpose for emails. It proposes four subject tags: #action for requests to get something done, #reply for questions asking for a response, #read to communicate information for awareness, and #fyi to share something interesting without requiring a response. Examples are given for subjects using each tag. The goal is to make email communications clearer by signaling the intended purpose or call to action within the subject line.

1. Introducing Email Subject Tags

2. Introducing Email Subject Tags
To make email a helpful tool, each message should have
a clear purpose.

3. Introducing Email Subject Tags
We can more easily write helpful emails
with clear purposes by using standardized
subject tags.
#action #reply #read #fyi

4. Introducing Email Subject Tags
get something
done
ask a question
communicate
information share something
interesting
a clear purpose.

5. Introducing Email Subject Tags
#action
get something done
#reply
ask a question
#read
communicate information
#fyi
share something interesting

6. Introducing Email Subject Tags
#action
get something done “please do this for me”
Example subjects:
Send me the monthly report by Thursday! #action
Please restart the GLP.net Liferay instance this afternoon #action

7. Introducing Email Subject Tags
#reply
ask a question “please write back”
Example subjects:
Today’s thoughts on email subject tags? #reply
Proposed schedule for Rwanda; changes by Friday #reply

8. Introducing Email Subject Tags
#read
communicate information “please be aware of this”
Example subjects:
New MOU with XYZ Corp signed Monday! #read
Minutes from Wednesday’s meeting #read

9. Introducing Email Subject Tags
#fyi
share something interesting “feel free to take a look”
Example subjects:
Google releases MindReader search functionality #fyi
HTML5 visual cheat sheet #fyi

10. Introducing Email Subject Tags
#action
“please do this for me”
#reply
“please write back”
#read
“please be aware of this”
#fyi
“feel free to take a look”

11. Introducing Email Subject Tags
With standardized tags
at the ends of email subjects
our communications
will be clearer.
What do you think? #reply