3 Message Formats in Outlook and When to Use Which GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > MS Office 66 66 people found this article helpful
3 Message Formats in Outlook and When to Use Which
Understanding Outlook email formats
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 February 17, 2020 Tweet Share Email Outlook Mail. Tweet Share Email MS Office Outlook Word Excel Powerpoint Microsoft Outlook offers three different message formats: plain text, HTML, and rich text (RTF). The primary differences among these message formats concern how they handle images, characters such as bullets, and styles such as bolding. Information in this article applies to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010; Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook Online, and Outlook for Mac. Choosing the Right Format
The goal of any form of communication is for your message to be understood clearly. For that to happen, your recipient must be able to see it. HTML: An email in HTML format shows all the colors, positioning, fonts, styles, etc. you used to create it—provided that your recipient has set Outlook to receive emails in HTML format. Most users do; in fact, that's the default setting. Plain text: An email sent in plain text format contains only text characters. Plain text doesn't support bold, italic, colored fonts, or other text formats. It also doesn't support pictures that are displayed directly in the message body, although you can include pictures as attachments. This format ensures maximum compatibility; all email applications support plain text, and every email account will be able to read your message. RTF: Rich text formatting (RTF), Outlook's proprietary message format, is somewhat of a middle ground. It supports text formatting, including bullets, alignment, and linked objects. You can use it when sending to other Outlook and Exchange users, but Microsoft recommends sending in HTML regardless. How to Set the Default Format
If you want to send all messages in a specified format, don't change the formatting for an individual message. Instead, change the default format. 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 Change Email Format to HTML or Plain Text in Outlook How to Compose Messages in HTML or Plain Text How to Insert a Link in an Email With Mac OS X Mail HTML vs. Plain-Text Emails How to View a Message in HTML With Express and Live Mail How to Add Rich Formatting to Text in iPhone Mail How to Insert an Inline Image in an Outlook Message How to Send a Plain Text Message in Outlook How to Change the Default Font and Size in Outlook How to Use Text Formatting and Images in Apple Mail Signatures How to Fix Outlook Search When It's Not Working How to Fix It When Attachments Aren't Showing in Outlook How to Recall an Email in Outlook Read Your Outlook Email in Plain Text to Avoid Privacy Threats How to Fix It When Outlook Spell Check Is Not Working How to Forward an Email as an Attachment in Outlook 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