[Chrissy Scivicque]

I got stuck today trying to figure out if the appropriate word for multiple email messages would be "email" or "emails". I went searching the internet for an answer and I thought I'd share what I found, as it's pretty likely others have had the same question at some point in time.

According to this incredibly helpful article, which references Microsoft's Manual of Style for Technical Publications, the word "email" is used to refer collectively to multiple email messages. An individual email message should be referred to as "email message" or "message". So, it's incorrect to say, "Send me an email" or "You have two new emails". The correct versions would be "Send me an email message" or "you have two new email messages" (collectively you have new email).

This is NOT the way we speak, however. We always say thing like, "I received 20 emails" or "I emailed you". According to Microsoft, you shouldn't use "emails" and it shouldn't be used as a verb. Instead, they would have you say, "I received 20 email messages" and "I sent you an email message".

Ok, to be honest, I don't know if Microsoft's advice cleared things up for me or just confused me more. I agree with the woman who wrote the helpful article I referenced above: the popular usage will probably win out over the "technically correct" usage. I'll continue saying, "I just emailed you" even though Microsoft wouldn't approve. They may be trying to take over the world, but they can't take over the English language, right?

What do you guys say? Personally, I'd say, "I've got a dozen emails to respond to." Does that sound wrong to you? Augh. My heads going to explode.

[badgergirl]

I think email is similar to writting a physical letter and even placing a phone call. When you write a letter and mail it, you say "I wrote you." When you call a person you say, "I called you" and I have even heard "I phoned you." I am not big on the "phoning" a person but calling/called, write/wrote, and email/emailed are acceptable from where I sit.

[NicoleMiller]

Great perspective badgergirl! I agree with both you and Chrissy. I'll still continue saying "I emailed you".

[galfriday]

I agree -- the popular usage will win. I'm going to continue to google topics, check my email, phone my friends, and sofa. (I got the last one from a commercial for the TV Show My Boys on TBS. Never saw the show, but it was a funny commercial. One of the characters said he was going to "sofa" for the afternoon...loved it)!

[LisaOlsen]

A good way to know the correct way to use "email" is to break it down into the actual verbage. For instance, the long version is actually "electronic mail." So, it wouldn't be grammatically correct to say, "Send me an electronic mail." The correct language would be, as Chrissy noted above, "Send me an electronic mail message."