Neutral to informal. Widely used in all registers, though "email" (no hyphen) is now the dominant written form in many contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Electronic communication sent via computer networks; a system for sending such messages.
Also used as a verb meaning to send an electronic message, and an adjective describing things related to such messages (e.g., e-mail address).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the message itself and the system. The hyphenated form is becoming less common in everyday digital writing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Hyphen use is more common and conservative in British English (e-mail). American English favors the closed form (email) more strongly.
Connotations
None significant.
Frequency
"Email" is more frequent than "e-mail" in both varieties, but the hyphenated form is still recognized and used, especially in formal or traditional publishing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB: to e-mail someone (about something)NOUN: an e-mail from/to someoneVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Drop me an e-mail”
- “It's in your e-mail”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Primary formal communication tool for internal and external correspondence.
Academic
Used for correspondence with professors, peers, and administrative offices.
Everyday
Common for personal communication, social plans, and online services.
Technical
Refers to protocols (SMTP, IMAP) and systems for electronic messaging.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I'll e-mail the details to the team.
- Please e-mail me your report by Friday.
American English
- Email me when you land.
- She emailed the documents directly to the lawyer.
adjective
British English
- Please confirm your e-mail address.
- We have an e-mail policy for staff.
American English
- What's your email contact?
- The email notification went to spam.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I got an e-mail from my friend.
- My e-mail address is [email protected].
- Could you send me the information by e-mail?
- I check my e-mail every morning.
- The e-mail outlining the new policy was sent to all employees.
- She e-mailed the client to reschedule the meeting.
- The e-mail server was down for several hours, disrupting communication.
- He was embroiled in a controversy over a hastily sent e-mail.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'E' for 'Electronic' + 'mail' you get on paper. It's just the electronic version of traditional mail.
Conceptual Metaphor
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION IS MAIL (inbox, send, receive, attachment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'электронная почта' in English text; use 'e-mail' or 'email'.
- Don't use 'e-mail' as a countable noun in Russian style (e.g., 'one e-mail' is fine, but 'write me in e-mail' is wrong; use 'by e-mail').
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect article use: 'I sent you e-mail' (correct: 'I sent you an e-mail').
- Spelling: 'e mail' or 'Email' (standard forms are 'e-mail' or 'email').
- Verb misuse: 'I will e-mail to you' (correct: 'I will e-mail you').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'e-mail' correctly as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Email' is now more common, especially in digital contexts, while 'e-mail' is a traditional hyphenated form.
Yes, it's common: 'I'll e-mail you tomorrow.' The past tense is 'e-mailed'.
It is countable when referring to a single message ('I sent three e-mails'). It can be uncountable when referring to the system or medium ('Send it by e-mail').
An 'e-mail' is typically a longer, more formal electronic message sent via the internet to an email address. A 'text' (or SMS) is a short, informal message sent between mobile phones.