Guidelines Summary:

• Remember the human. Treat others online as you would in real life. Behind every screen is a real person with feelings.

• Adhere to the same standards of behavior as in real life. Ethical standards should not be lower in the virtual world.

• Use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Professionalism is judged by the quality of your writing. Avoid slang, text shortcuts, and emoticons in formal discussions.

• Avoid "shouting" online. Typing in all capital letters is perceived as yelling and is considered bad form.

• Respect others' time and bandwidth. Keep messages concise, relevant to the topic, and use informative subject lines. Be mindful of sending large attachments without warning.

• Cite your sources. Give credit where it is due to avoid plagiarism. Do not post copyrighted material without permission.

• Be forgiving of mistakes. Not everyone is an expert on netiquette or the technology. Respond privately and kindly to minor errors if necessary.

• Avoid sarcasm and humor without non-verbal cues. Written words can be easily misinterpreted; what you intend as a joke might be offensive to others.

• Stay on topic. Keep your contributions relevant to the established discussion thread to maintain clarity and flow.

• Read, think, and then respond. Take a moment to review your message before sending to ensure it conveys the intended tone and meaning, preventing misunderstandings.