Professional Email Writing Course 2026
This course is for anyone who writes email at work, including people who are new to Canadian workplaces or are still building their English. It covers subject lines and structure, greetings and tone, requests and follow-ups, apologies, complaints and bad news, customer replies, and CC, BCC, attachments and privacy. Study each lesson, try its topic quiz, then take the timed final assessment. Score 80% or more to earn a certificate of completion.
Kort antwoord
Deze gratis cursus heeft ongeveer 150 minuten lessen, 6 themaquizzen zonder tijdslimiet (90 vragen in totaal) en een getimede eindtoets van 35 willekeurig gekozen vragen. Haal 80% of meer op de eindtoets om een bewijs van deelname te downloaden (privé, niet geaccrediteerd). Gecontroleerd aan de hand van officiële bronnen op 13 oktober 2026.
Wat je leert
- Write short, specific subject lines and put the main point first
- Choose greetings, closings and a tone that fit the reader
- Write clear requests with deadlines, and polite follow-ups
- Write sincere apologies, firm complaints and bad-news emails
- Reply to customers, including upset customers, with clear next steps
- Use To, CC, BCC, Reply all and attachments correctly
- Protect personal information and spot phishing emails
Haal 80% of meer om je certificaat te downloaden.
Je studieplan
Lees elke les, maak de themaquiz (zonder tijdslimiet, met uitleg) en daarna de getimede eindtoets. Elke keer wordt een nieuwe mix van vragen gekozen. Je voortgang wordt in deze browser opgeslagen.
- Lees de lessen6 lessen, ongeveer 150 min
- Themaquiz 1: Subject lines and clear structure15 vragen
- Themaquiz 2: Greetings, closings and professional tone15 vragen
- Themaquiz 3: Requests, follow-ups and replies15 vragen
- Themaquiz 4: Apologies, complaints and bad news15 vragen
- Themaquiz 5: Replying to customers15 vragen
- Themaquiz 6: Recipients, attachments and privacy15 vragen
- Eindexamen35 vragen, 35 min · Haal 80% of meer
Themaquiz 1: Subject lines and clear structure
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Vraag 1 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. To tell the reader what the email is about and what they need to do
A specific subject line tells the reader the topic and, if possible, the action needed, so they know whether to open and act on it.
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Vraag 2 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. Please approve Saturday overtime by Friday
It is short, names the topic, uses an action word and gives the deadline.
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Vraag 3 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. Under about 50 characters (6 to 8 words)
Writing advice from the Language Portal of Canada is to keep subject lines under 50 characters or 6 to 8 words; some phones show only 33 to 44 characters.
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Vraag 4 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. After you write the message, when you know exactly what it says
Writing the subject line last lets you sum up what the message really says and what the reader must do.
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Vraag 5 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. In the first one or two sentences
State your purpose up front so the reader knows right away why you are writing and what you need.
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Vraag 6 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Main idea, then details, then a goodwill close
In the direct approach, the main idea comes first, then the details the reader needs, and the message ends with a goodwill close.
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Vraag 7 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. A routine request for a copy of last month's invoice
The direct approach suits routine requests, replies and good news; refusals and unwelcome announcements are bad news.
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Vraag 8 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. Under 15 to 20 words
The Canada.ca Content Style Guide says to break up long sentences, with the best length under 15 to 20 words.
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Vraag 9 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. Send separate emails, one topic each, with clear subject lines
Limiting each email to one issue makes it easier to find, answer and act on.
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Vraag 10 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. As a numbered list
Numbered lists are for steps or a set order; bullets are for items with no special order.
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Vraag 11 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. The request and deadline are buried at the end
The main point and the deadline should come first; here they are hidden at the end after long background.
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Vraag 12 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Can you work Sat., March 7, 8–2? Reply by Wed.
It is under 50 characters, says what Aisha needs and gives the deadline.
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Vraag 13 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Could you work this Saturday, March 7, from 8 am to 2 pm? Please reply by Wednesday noon.
Putting the request and deadline in the first sentences follows the direct approach.
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Vraag 14 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. About one screen: around 25 lines or 250 words
The Language Portal of Canada advises keeping a message within one screen page, about 25 lines or 250 words.
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Vraag 15 van 15
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Nothing stands out, because everything is emphasized
Bold works only when used sparingly; too much bold takes away its effect.
Toetsenbord: 1–4 om te antwoorden, Enter voor de volgende vraag.
Wat je moet weten voor het examen
- Keep subject lines under about 50 characters (6 to 8 words) so they show fully in the inbox. Some phones show only 33 to 44 characters.
- Government of Canada writing advice is to keep an email within one screen: about 25 lines or 250 words.
- Canada.ca's plain-language guidance says the best sentence length is under 15 to 20 words, and paragraphs should have no more than three sentences.
- Use the direct approach (main idea first) for routine and good-news messages, and the indirect approach (reasons before the decision) for bad news.
- In a complimentary close, capitalize only the first word and put a comma after it: "Best regards,".
- People in the BCC field get a copy, but the other recipients can't see their names.
- The Privacy Commissioner of Canada found a complaint well-founded after a federal department emailed 636 people using the To field instead of BCC, which showed everyone's addresses.
- Under Canada's anti-spam legislation, a commercial email needs consent, identification information and an unsubscribe mechanism. Unsubscribe requests must be processed within 10 business days.
Veelgestelde vragen
What certificate do I get, and what is it not?
If you score 80% or more on the final assessment, you can download a certificate of completion for this course. It shows that you finished a general skills course. It is not an accredited qualification, and it is not a certification from any employer, vendor or government.
Is this course for people who are learning English?
Yes. The lessons use plain, simple English and many examples, so they work well for newcomers and English learners. Native speakers who want to write clearer work emails will also find it useful.
How does the final assessment work?
It has 35 questions picked at random from the course's question bank, and you have 35 minutes. You get a new mix of questions each time you try. Some questions ask you to read a sample email first.
Does the course follow Canadian spelling and style?
Yes. It uses Canadian spelling and follows plain-language advice from the Government of Canada, including the Canada.ca Content Style Guide and the Language Portal of Canada.
What if my workplace has its own email rules?
Follow them. Many employers have rules about signatures, sending personal information, encryption and marketing emails. This course teaches general good practice, not your employer's policy.
Is het certificaat geaccrediteerd of officieel erkend?
Nee. Het is een privé bewijs van deelname, alleen voor je kennis. Het is niet erkend, geaccrediteerd of goedgekeurd door een overheid, vergunningsinstantie, toezichthouder of onderwijsinstelling, en het vervangt geen wettelijk verplichte vergunning, certificering of opleiding.
Bronnen
- Government of Canada: Canada.ca Content Style Guide (plain language)
- Language Portal of Canada: 5 tips to improve your email writing skills
- Language Portal of Canada (Writing Tips Plus): Clear communication: Write relevant and effective emails
- Language Portal of Canada (Peck's English Pointers): Boost your eQ (email intelligence)
- Language Portal of Canada: Salutations and complimentary closes made simple
- Language Portal of Canada (Writing Tips Plus): Business letters: Salutation
- Language Portal of Canada (Writing Tips Plus): Business letters: Complimentary close
- Language Portal of Canada (Writing Tips Plus): Business messages: Direct approach
- Language Portal of Canada (Writing Tips Plus): Business messages: Indirect approach
- Microsoft Support: Show, hide, and view the Bcc (blind carbon copy) field in Outlook for Windows
- Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: IRCC mass emails disclosed recipients' addresses (2022)
- Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Service provider discloses email addresses of nearly 300 customers (2014)
- Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: PIPEDA in brief
- Get Cyber Safe (Government of Canada): How to fight phishing
- Get Cyber Safe (Government of Canada): How to prevent phishing in small businesses
- Get Cyber Safe (Government of Canada): Fact sheet: Phishing
- CRTC: Frequently asked questions about Canada's anti-spam legislation
- Canadian Consumer Handbook: How to complain effectively
- Manitoba Consumer Protection Office: Writing a complaint letter