Using email is like composing or reading a paper message, with several distinct differences:

• It's faster. Email is received almost immediately after it is sent, usually within minutes.

• It's more conversational. Because of its immediacy, a whole series of e-mail messages may be exchanged within a very short time. As a result, email messages tend to be less formal and they are also usually shorter and more to the point.

• It's easier to reference. The text of a previous email message can easily be included as part of a reply to that message. Thus, eemail correspondents are able to keep the replies in context for each message. Including this context is not only polite, but also makes an email message more accurate and understandable.