/en/gmail/set-up-a-gmail-account/content/
intro
Now that you’ve created a gmail account, you can start sending emails. writing an email can be as simple as writing a message, or you can use text formatting, attachments and a signature to personalize your message .
In this lesson, we’ll show you how to compose an email, add an attachment, and create a signature that will appear on all messages you send.
watch the video below to learn more about how to send emails with gmail.
sending email
When you write an email, you will use the compose window. this is where you’ll add the recipients’ email address, the subject, and the body of the email, which is the message itself. you will also be able to add various types of text formatting, as well as one or more attachments. if you want, you can even create a signature that will be added to the bottom of every email you send.
the compose window
click the buttons on the interactive below to learn about the different parts of the compose window.
to send an email:
- on the left menu panel, click the compose button.
- the compose window in the bottom right corner of the page.
- You will need to add one or more recipients to the to: field. you can do this by typing one or more email addresses, separated by commas, or you can click a to select recipients from your contacts, then click select.
- type a subject for the message.
- in the body field >, write your message. When you’re done, click send.
if the person you’re emailing is already one of your contacts, you can start typing the firstname, lastname, or address that person’s email address. strong> and gmail will display the contact below the to: field. then you can press the enter key to add the person to the to: field .
add attachments
An attachment is simply a file (such as an image or a document) that is sent along with your email. for example, if you are applying for a job, you can send your resume as an attachment, with the body of the email being the cover letter. It’s a good idea to include a message in the body of your email explaining what the attachment is, especially if the recipient is not expecting an attachment.
Remember to attach your file before clicking send. forgetting to attach a file is a surprisingly common mistake.
to add an attachment:
- while composing an email, click the paperclip icon at the bottom of the compose window.
- a dialog box to upload files will appear. choose the file you want to attach, then click open.
- the attachment will start to load. most attachments will load in a few seconds, but larger attachments may take longer.
- When you’re ready to send your email, click send.
You can click send before the attachment finishes uploading. it will continue to load and gmail will automatically send the email once it’s done.
email format
gmail allows you to add various types of formatting to your text.
click the format button at the bottom of the compose window to see the different formatting options.
click the buttons in the interactive below to learn about the different formatting options in gmail.
For more serious emails, such as job applications, be careful not to add formatting that might appear too informal, such as bright colors > or emoticons.
add a signature
A signature is an optional block of text that appears after every email you send. By default, Gmail doesn’t include a signature, but it’s easy to create one. it will typically include your name and some contact information, such as your phone number or email address. if you’re using gmail at work, you may want to include your title and your company address or website.
- click the gear icon in the top right corner of the page, then select settings.
- scroll down until you see the signature section.
- type the desired signature in the box. You can also change the font, add other formatting, or insert an image if you’d like.
- scroll down to in at the bottom of the page, then click save changes.
You should be brief in your signature. Instead of listing all the phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses where you can be reached, just list the most important ones.
Keep in mind that many different people will see your signature, so you may not want to include your home address or anything too personal. Even if you only email people you know, someone can still forward your email to someone else, potentially revealing your signature to even more people.
challenge!
- Open Gmail.
- Create a signature for your emails.
- Compose a new email.
- Address the email to yourself by putting your email address as the recipient.
- Type a subject and a message in the body of the email.
- Attach a file or picture to the email. If you don’t have one, you can download and use the picture below by right-clicking and choosing Save Image As.
- When you’re finished, your email should look something like this:
- Optional: Select send to actually send the email to yourself.
/en/gmail/reply-to-an-email/content/