Donna & List, This is a good idea and it makes it easy for everyone to understand what is going on. However, not everyone likes doing it this way. Some use the "Reply All" method that includes the original message. This way as long as you read the reply and the original message your aware of the query. Also some like to use the " Cut & Paste " method. You can cut the part of the original message you are making reference to. Either way you choose one method needs to be used. If you just hit "Reply" then you are leaving out important data that needs to be referenced to. Earl > [Original Message] > From: Donna Cagle Heck <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 3/19/2004 3:35:30 PM > Subject: Re: [CAGLE] A dialogue suggestion > > Hi Cagle Listees! > > > > May I make a suggestion? I've noticed here and in private emails that > carrying on a dialogue is not always easy in the written format. Here is a > suggestion that we used on a list that I used to admin. Let me use a sample > email as an example: > > > > SAMPLE email received************** > > > > Dear Donna, > > I will wait patiently for the information that you are so graciously going > to look up for me of Samuel and Jacob's children and spouses if you have > it.. I would also appreciate it if you would attach the genealogy report > you have of your husbands family tree to a message so I can compare it to > mine. I put your name in my tree as Donna unknown. What is your maiden > name? > > Thanks! > > > > Now here is how I would format my reply:************** > > > > > > <<I will wait patiently for the information that you are so graciously going > to look up for me of Samuel and Jacob's children and spouses if you have > it.. >> ..........Thank you for giving me time to look up the information > without pressure. Here are Samuel and Jacob's children as I found them in > the Salem Church records - etc., etc. etc. > > > > << I would also appreciate it if you would attach the genealogy report you > have of your husbands family tree to a message so I can compare it to mine. > >> ...........Sure! I've attached the file for you. > > > > <<I put your name in my tree as Donna unknown. What is your maiden > name?>>.......My maiden name was Cagle. My complete name is Donna Kay Heck > nee Cagle. > > ************************** > > I always include the portion of the original email that I'm referring to > within << >>. > Preceding my response I put ............................ then my reply. > Start a new paragraph for each item. > > I think this is very helpful since I get a lot of email and may not remember > exactly what I asked in the first place. :-) This way you don't have to > remember to include a copy of their original message or get these LONG lists > of previous messages at the tail of your response. Much simpler for those > listees who are on the digest version. > > As with all things on the 'net - take what advice you like and exercise your > delete option for the rest. ;-) > > Donna Cagle Heck > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237