For example I’ll send an e-mail with 3 questions and will only get an answer to one of the questions. It’s worse when there are 2 yes/no questions with a question that is obviously not a yes/no question. Then I get a response of

Yes

back in the e-mail. So which question are they answering?

Mainly I’m asking all of you why do people insist on only answering 1 question out of an e-mail where there are multiple? Do people just not read? Are people that lazy? What is going on?

Edit at this point I’ve got the answers . Some are too lazy to actually read. Some admit they get focused on one item and forget to go back. I understand the second group. The first group yeah no excuse there.

Continuing edit: there are comments where people have tried the bullet points and they say it still doesn’t help. I might put the needed questions in red.

  • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
    674·
    5 months ago

    Considering your wording in the last paragraph, I’m going to guess that your writing style is frequently overwhelming. Making sure that questions are clearly isolated (I’d suggest using numeric lists or bullet points) makes it clear what response you’re expecting.

    Additionally, if you’re asking several difficult questions, it’s likely that people will lose the thread partway through.

    • faltryka@lemmy.world
      131·
      5 months ago

      This is what I was thinking too. Failure to exercise brevity is the leading cause of people not having the time for your email.

    • someacnt@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      Not OP, but I experience difficulty articulating what I mean while staying formal. How to improve?

      • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
        2·
        5 months ago

        Bullet points. If you don’t have a rapport spell things out paragraph style and then finish the email off with something like this…

        So considering the above I’d like to get your opinion on these points:

        1. Do you think the widget should be blue or orange?

        2. Given the expected market impact do we want to bring in PR for our e-widget announcement?

    • andrewta@lemmy.worldOP
      69·
      5 months ago

      I’m sorry but there is no difference between putting them in bullet points, or typing like I did. People need to learn to read.

      Side note :

      I’ve tried bullet points.

      I’ve tried putting multiple return carriages between each question.

      I’ve putting all the questions end on end

      and it makes no difference end result is the same.

      Add in a lot of the other comments saying they have the same problem it isn’t just me