From Boomers to Gen Z: Uniting Different Email Writing Styles for Better Collaboration

Even with the rise of chat communication, email is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, emailing is the dominant form of communication in traditional corporate workplaces, and sometimes at modern tech startups too.

This article will explore the way different generations approach email writing and how you can use that to inform and improve your email writing style.

How different generations email

There are many factors that impact our email writing style: the type of company we work at, the type of industry we work in, the reason why we write emails, etc.

However, probably the major universal difference that spans (=covers) all industries is which generation we belong to. The modern workforce is made up of (= consists of)4 generations and each generation comes with their specific approach to writing emails.

The traditional “old-school” generation

1. Boomers (born 1946–1964)

- Use formal language and cliche phrases

- Use formal language and avoid abbreviations or slang.

- Clearly state the purpose and expectations in the email.

2. Gen X (born 1965–1980)

- Professional but concise in emails.

- Avoid excessive jargon or technical terms.

- Provide clear instructions and expectations.

The “modern” generation

3. Millennials ( born 1981–1996)

- Use a friendly and conversational tone with fewer email cliche phrases.

- Keep emails concise and visually appealing.

- Include bullet points or numbered lists for better readability.

4. Gen Z (born 1997–2012)

- Keep emails brief and straightforward.

- Utilize informal language to establish a friendly tone.

- Incorporate emojis, idioms, and even slang.

Example

Let’s take a look at the two emails below and break down the differences in communication style between the “old-school” and the “modern” generations.

Boomers / Gen X-style email

Jacob,

I trust this email finds you well.

I wanted to discuss the upcoming team meeting scheduled for next week. It has come to my attention that we may need to reaccess our milestones given the recent adjustments to the project scope.

If you could kindly provide me with your availability and any suggestions for topics to be covered, I would greatly appreciate it. Additionally, I believe it would be beneficial to include our remote team members via video conferencing to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Bob

Milenial / Gen Z-style email

Hey Jacob,

Hope you’re doing awesome!

Just a quick heads-up about our upcoming team meeting next week.

I believe we need to reaccess our milestones, considering how our project has been evolving lately. Any chance you could send across your available time slots and pitch in some specific points you think we should dive into?

Let’s meet via a video conference and get our remote members on board for that as well. Just so the whole team can stay in sync.

Best,

Bob

Differences Between the Two Styles

Formality vs. Informality:

• The Baby Boomer email is more formal in tone (e.g., “It has come to my attention,” “If you could kindly provide”, etc.).
• The Gen Z email is informal and conversational, using idioms and phrasal verbs (e.g. “Just a quick heads-up”, “get our members on board”, “pitch in ideas”, etc.)

Length and Conciseness:

• The Baby Boomer email is longer and provides a detailed explanation of the situation and request.
• The Gen Z email is shorter, getting straight to the point and using concise language.

Salutations:

• The Baby Boomer email uses a formal salutation (“I trust this email finds you well”)
• The Gen Z email uses a friendly and casual greeting (“I hope you’re doing awesome”)

Conclusion

No matter which generation you belong to, it is important to be aware and fluent in both the “old-school” and the “modern” email writing styles. While the modern Gen Z-inspired style is getting more widespread and accepted in the workplace, many corporate environments stick to the traditional formal email communication style that’s consistent with baby boomers’ communication practices.

Getting proficient in both email writing styles will allow you to always feel at home (= feel comfortable) while handling any communication task.