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How to Write the Perfect Email Subject

Keep them short and sweet with a reason to open the message

By Heinz Tschabitscher Heinz Tschabitscher Writer University of Vienna A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 8, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Email Yahoo! Mail Gmail

What to Know

Be brief and include a reason for user to open the message. If message requires action, include in subject line. Include date or deadline, if applicable. Keep it between 30 and 50 characters, skipping unnecessary articles, adjectives, and adverbs. This article explains how to write a good email subject line. Keep it short and to the point to get the best recipient response.

What Makes a Good Email Subject Line

The most effective subject lines are brief and contain a reason for the user to open the message. Keep the recipient in mind and know what you want from them. If the message requires action, include it in the subject line. For example: Computer support neededRSVP requested for company retreatPlease review attached monthly report If the action associated with your message entails a date or deadline, include it in the email subject as well: Computer support needed ASAPRSVP requested for company retreat - respond by October 15Please review attached monthly report by Friday Be brief but include enough detail for the recipient to know what the email is about. It's okay to skip unnecessary articles, adjectives, and adverbs to keep the word count down. Studies recommend limiting the total number of characters in a subject line to between 30 and 50. If we apply these rules to our subject lines above, we get very concise phrases: Computer support needed ASAP (30 characters including spaces)RSVP by October 15 for company retreat (40 characters including spaces)Review attached report by Friday (34 characters including spaces) Using a question as the email subject can draw a reader in: Are you attending the company retreat? Sometimes a directive works well: Join us at the Miami retreat! You can imply scarcity to get recipients to act: Only 5 tickets left for Miami retreat Or try tempting them with a list: The 5 sessions you won't want to miss in Miami Don't tackle more than one topic in a subject line. If your email includes multiple subjects, send multiple messages. That way, one topic won't get lost in a thread about a different one. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Send a New Email With iPhone Mail App How to Send Email to Undisclosed Recipients From Gmail How to Mind Your Email Manners 8 Tips for Writing Email Subject Lines EOM: What It Means and How It Saves Time How to View Full Message Headers in Mozilla Thunderbird How to Send Email From a PHP Script How to Search Mail in iPhone Mail How to Get Alerts for New Replies in a Thread with iOS Mail How to Make iPhone Mail Load Faster How to Retrieve Archived Emails in Gmail How to Forward an Email as an Attachment in Outlook How to Write a New Partition Boot Sector for Windows XP How to Use Search Operators to Find Emails in Gmail The 8 Best Sites For Free E-cards Google Pixel 7 & 7 Pro: News, Price, Release Date, Specs & More Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies