Writing and staying in touch
Send a first email
What you will be able to do In 5 minutes, you'll know how to write and send your very first email, from the recipient to the send button.
An email is a letter that travels over the internet instead of going through the post. To send one, three boxes are enough: who you're writing to, what it's about in a few words, and what you have to say. Once these three boxes are filled in, a single button is enough to send the message off, within seconds, wherever your recipient may be. We're going to fill in this message together, on a screen we designed ourselves. Nothing here is real: no one will receive anything, you can make as many mistakes as you need, start over, and move at your own pace.
Simulated screen
I practice
This screen was drawn by us. Nothing is sent, nothing is installed, and no real brand is shown.
The situationYour daughter gave you her email address last night. You want to write to her for the very first time.
The interactive exercise needs JavaScript. The written step by step, just below, says exactly the same thing.
The written step by step
The same steps, in words, to read or print. This sheet works even without the exercise.
Start a new message
Your turn In your inbox, tap whatever lets you write to someone for the first time.
The "New message" button opens a blank page with three boxes to fill in: who to, what subject, and what text.
Who you're writing to
Your turn On the new message page, tap the very first field, the one waiting for an email address.
The "To" field, right at the top of the page, waits for the exact email address of the person you're writing to.
Sum it up in a few words
Your turn Now tap the field where you sum up your message in a short phrase.
The "Subject" field, right under the recipient, is filled with a short summary: a few words are enough.
Write your text
Your turn Tap the large blank space where you write the text of your message.
The large blank space under the subject is made for your text: a few simple sentences are enough for a first message.
Send it for real
Your turn Your message is ready. Tap whatever really makes it go out.
The "Send" button, often colored and near a small arrow, really makes the message go out.
The proof it went out
Your turn Tap the spot where you'll find proof that your message really went out.
The "Sent" folder holds a copy of every message that's gone out, with the exact date and time.
The sheet to keep
- An email is built from three boxes: who to (the address), what subject, and the text.
- The recipient's address must be exact, down to the last character, otherwise the message finds no one.
- A short subject helps the person understand what it's about even before opening the message.
- The "Send" button is different from "Save as draft" (which sets the message aside) and "Delete" (which erases it).
- The "Sent" folder keeps a copy of every message that's gone out: it's the proof it really reached its destination.
- A first email doesn't need to be long: a few simple sentences are enough.
The reflexes in this skill
I look at WHO is speaking
A displayed name is just text, so it can be copied. What matters is the exact address of the sender, or their phone number. A delivery announced from an unknown mobile number is not a delivery.
I make a copy of what matters
Photos, documents, contacts: anything that exists in only one place can disappear along with the device. A copy somewhere else turns a breakdown into a minor inconvenience.
Two questions to check
Nothing is graded, and nothing is saved anywhere except in your own browser.
You've just written an email. What should you check before tapping "Send"?
See the answer
That the recipient's address is exact
A single letter too many or too few in the address, and the message finds no one. It's the first thing to double-check before sending.
Where do you find proof that a message you wrote has really gone out?
See the answer
In the Sent folder
The Sent folder keeps a copy of every message you've sent out, with the exact date and time.
I've done it
Check this box once you can do this skill on your own.
Your progress stays in your own browser.