B1.2 - Writing e-mails and letters

How to write a professional email without sounding like SPAM

Cómo escribir un correo profesional sin sonar a SPAM

Cómo escribir un correo electrónico profesional de manera efectiva, utilizando tres sencillos trucos para mantener un tono adecuado y claro.
How to write a professional email effectively, using three simple tricks to maintain an appropriate and clear tone.

Exercise 1: Language immersion

Instruction: Recognize the indicated vocabulary in the video and answer the questions.

Word Translation
El mail profesional Professional email
La profesionalidad Professionalism
Los párrafos Paragraphs
Las palabras rimbombantes Grandiose words
Copiamos We copy recipients
Releemos We reread
Ser tomado en serio Being taken seriously
La comunicación profesional Professional communication
Escribir un mail profesional es complicado: cada palabra cuenta. (Writing a professional email is tricky: every word matters.)
Si no lo hacemos bien, puede sonar raro, como si lo hubiera escrito un robot. (If we don't get it right, it can sound strange, as if a robot had written it.)
Sucede por miedo a no ser entendidos o a no parecer expertos. (This often comes from fear of not being understood or of not seeming knowledgeable.)
A veces usamos palabras complicadas para que no parezca que no sabemos. (Sometimes we use complicated words to avoid appearing uninformed.)
Ocasionalmente copiamos a muchas personas por miedo a excluir a alguien. (Occasionally we CC many people out of fear of excluding someone.)
Releemos el correo varias veces por temor a cometer errores. (We reread the email several times because we're afraid of making mistakes.)
Ese miedo puede hacernos parecer demasiado formales o inseguros. (That fear can make us come across as overly formal or insecure.)
También tememos no ser tomados en serio o parecer poco preparados. (We also worry about not being taken seriously or seeming unprepared.)
Nos preocupa ser demasiado directos o recibir una respuesta negativa. (We fear being too direct or getting a negative response.)
Así, un correo sencillo se convierte en una justificación y se pierde claridad, autenticidad y conexión real. (As a result, a simple email becomes a justification and loses clarity, authenticity, and genuine connection.)

Comprehension questions:

  1. (Why do some people use grandiose words when writing a professional email?)

  2. (What behaviors arise from the fear of making mistakes or of excluding someone?)

  3. (How does that fear affect clarity and professional communication?)