Quick answer: The correct spelling is email. The form e mail (with a space) is incorrect and considered outdated. While “electronic mail” was the original term, standard usage has solidified around the single-word, unhyphenated form email for over two decades.
If you have ever paused mid-sentence, hovering your cursor over a document, wondering if you should type “e mail,” “e-mail,” or “email,” you are not alone. This confusion stems from the rapid evolution of language in the digital era. As new technologies emerge, their names often start as descriptive phrases before condensing into single words. Understanding why email won the linguistic battle helps you write with confidence and authority, ensuring your professional correspondence looks polished and current.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| The standard, modern noun and verb for electronic messages. Use this in all professional and casual contexts. | Please send me an email with the attached report by noon. | |
| e mail | An incorrect spacing of the term. It is never standard in modern English. | Incorrect: I will check my e mail later. |
| An older, hyphenated variant. While not strictly “wrong,” it is increasingly seen as dated and is falling out of favor in major style guides. | Dated: She sent an e-mail to the team. |
When to use email
You should use email in virtually every context today. It is the preferred spelling in major style guides, including the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook, which dropped the hyphen in 2011, and the Chicago Manual of Style. It functions as both a noun (“I received an email”) and a verb (“Please email me the details”).
The shift to the single-word form reflects how deeply integrated this technology has become in our lives. Just as “telephone” replaced “tele-graph” and “website” replaced “web site,” email has shed its punctuation marks as it moved from a novel technical concept to a mundane utility. According to Wikipedia, the term originated as “electronic mail,” but the shortened form quickly became dominant in common parlance.
Here are three realistic examples of how to use email correctly in professional settings:
- In a cover letter: “I am available for an interview at your convenience and can be reached via email at jane.doe@example.com.”
- In a project management update: “I will email the final design proofs to the client for approval before we proceed to printing.”
- In a casual Slack message to a colleague: “Hey, did you see the email from HR about the holiday schedule?”
Using the single-word form signals that you are up-to-date with current professional standards. It looks cleaner on the page and reads faster, which is essential in business communication where brevity is valued.
When to use e mail
The short answer is: never. The form e mail (with a space) is grammatically incorrect and visually jarring to modern readers. It appears as a typo rather than a stylistic choice.
This error usually happens for one of two reasons. First, the writer may be mistakenly treating “e” as a standalone prefix that requires separation, similar to how some might incorrectly write “e commerce” instead of “ecommerce” or “e-commerce.” Second, it may be a simple keystroke error where the space bar was hit instead of the hyphen or nothing at all.
Unlike the debate between “e-mail” and “email,” there is no reputable style guide or dictionary that supports “e mail” as a valid variant. It breaks the morphological unity of the word. The “e” stands for “electronic,” and it acts as a prefix modifying “mail.” In English, prefixes like “e-” (as in e-book, e-learning, e-ticket) are typically attached directly to the root word or connected with a hyphen, but never separated by a full space unless the root word is a proper noun or a specific exception applies.
Consider these corrections of common errors:
- Incorrect: “Check your e mail for the login credentials.”
- Correct: “Check your email for the login credentials.”
- Incorrect: “I prefer e mail communication over phone calls.”
- Correct: “I prefer email communication over phone calls.”
If you see “e mail” in a draft, delete the space immediately. It undermines the professionalism of the document and suggests a lack of attention to detail. In the context of digital communication, precision matters. As noted in the broader history of Mail, the transition from physical to digital systems brought many terminology changes, but the consolidation of “electronic mail” into “email” was one of the most decisive and universal shifts.
How to remember the difference
Remembering that email is one word without a space is easy if you use the “Website Test.”
Think of other digital terms that started with “e” or “web.” We no longer write “web site” (two words); we write website. We rarely write “e-book” with a hyphen anymore; many publishers now prefer ebook. The trend in digital terminology is toward compounding—smashing words together to create efficient, single-unit concepts.
Here is a simple mnemonic: Electronic Mail moves fast, so it doesn’t have time for spaces.
Another helpful trick is to visualize the icon on your phone or computer. It is almost always labeled “Mail” or “Email,” never “E Mail.” Your brain already recognizes the single-word visual pattern; you just need to trust it when typing.
If you are still hesitant, ask yourself: “Would I write ‘e commerce’ or ‘e learning’?” If you recognize those as awkward, apply the same logic to email. The space creates an unnecessary pause in reading, disrupting the flow of the sentence. In copy editing, we aim for frictionless reading. Removing the space removes the friction.
Common mistakes and exceptions
While “e mail” is always wrong, the landscape of “e-mail” vs. “email” does have some nuance, particularly regarding regional preferences and older institutional styles.
The Hyphen Debate: E-mail vs. Email
For many years, e-mail (with a hyphen) was the standard. You will still see it in older academic papers, legal documents, or publications that adhere to very conservative style guides. However, the momentum has decisively shifted.
- AP Stylebook: Changed to email in 2011.
- New York Times: Switched to email in 2016.
- Chicago Manual of Style: Prefers email.
If you are writing for a publication or company that has not updated its style guide in over a decade, you might encounter resistance to email. In such rare cases, follow the house style. But for general business, marketing, web content, and personal communication, email is the safe, modern choice.
US vs. UK Differences
Interestingly, this is not a major point of divergence between American and British English. Both regions have largely adopted email. While British English sometimes retains hyphens longer than American English (e.g., “on-line” vs. “online” in the past), email has become standardized globally. You do not need to switch to “e-mail” when writing for a UK audience.
Capitalization Errors
A common mistake related to spelling is capitalization. email is a common noun, not a proper noun. It should not be capitalized unless it starts a sentence or appears in a title case heading.
- Incorrect: “Send me an Email.”
- Correct: “Send me an email.”
- Correct: “Check your Email inbox.” (Only if “Email” is part of a specific UI label or title, but generally lowercase in prose).
Pluralization
Another frequent error is pluralizing email. Since it is a mass noun in many contexts (referring to the system or collection of messages), it can be tricky. However, when referring to individual messages, “emails” is widely accepted.
- Acceptable: “I have three unread emails.”
- Also Acceptable: “I have three unread messages.” (Some purists prefer “messages” to avoid cluttering the language with too many specialized plurals, but “emails” is standard in business).
Do not write “e mails” or “e-mails” if you have already committed to the closed compound email. Consistency is key. If you choose email, the plural is emails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “e-mail” still correct? Yes, “e-mail” with a hyphen is still considered correct by some dictionaries and older style guides, but it is increasingly viewed as dated. Most modern editors and tech companies prefer the unhyphenated email.
Why do some people still write “e mail”? People who write “e mail” are usually making a typographical error or are unaware that the prefix “e-” attaches directly to the root word. It is not a recognized variant in any major dictionary.
Should I capitalize “Email” in a sentence? No, do not capitalize email unless it is the first word of a sentence or part of a proper title. It is a common noun, like “letter” or “phone call.”
Is “emails” acceptable as a plural? Yes, emails is widely accepted and used in professional contexts to refer to multiple electronic messages. While some traditionalists prefer “email messages,” using emails is efficient and clear.
Nathan Williams is a seasoned editor and writer with a passion for the subtleties of the English language. With a degree in English from NYU and more than 12 years of editorial experience, he has honed his expertise in spelling accuracy and the comparison of often-misused words. Nathan’s foray into language analysis was sparked by his desire to help others communicate more effectively and avoid common pitfalls in writing. At WordCompareHub, he crafts comprehensive guides and articles that discuss word usage distinctions and provide effective spelling strategies. Nathan is driven by the belief that clarity in language is key to effective communication. In his leisure time, he enjoys crosswords and participates in local word games, continually expanding his lexicon and sharpening his linguistic skills.