How to write a subject-line

The subject-line of an email should let the reader know the topic(s) of the email to the point of differentiating it from other emails.

Poor subject-lines on email can hurt productivity and make people either open a message that is useless or skip opening a message that would be useful. Poor subject-lines may make recipients reject the email, thinking it is from a spammer.

Examples of poor subject lines

Here we list poor subject lines and possible fixes.

Vague subjects

Question about Rosetta Stone

This line isn't as bad as "Question," but why not include a short version of the question itself?

Does anyone have this book I can borrow?

OMG, put the title in!

Lab report

Yeah, what about it?

Subjects that could apply to any message

This is interesting

If it wasn't interesting why would you send it?

Subjects that simply mean reply or forward

Reply

Reply to what, or what is the gist of your reply?

Follow-up

FWD

Re

your message

I got your message

This would be acceptable only if that was the only thing "you" wanted to know.

Meaningless combinations

re

FWD

FWD

re