What are the key differences in email etiquette across European cultures

Key differences in email etiquette across European cultures can be summarized as follows:

British culture tends to be more formal and polite in email communication, often using indirect language and conventional greetings and closings. Emails typically include courteous phrases and a clear structure with formal openings and closings.

Southern European cultures such as Spanish tend to be more expressive and less formal in emails, with greetings and closings reflecting warmth and personal connection. There is often more direct language, but social politeness is maintained with attention to relationship building.

Central and Eastern European cultures such as Polish exhibit a mix of formality and directness in emails, often influenced by hierarchical views in business communication. Greetings and closings follow clear etiquette with respect to titles and formal address, although communication can be somewhat more straightforward than in Western Europe.

Nordic countries (e.g., Norway, Sweden) emphasize clarity, simplicity, and brevity in emails while maintaining politeness. The style often avoids excessive formalities but respects professional boundaries and is succinct.

German-speaking countries such as Germany and Switzerland tend to favor structured, concise, and formal email communication with attention to titles and formal address. Politeness is maintained but is more reserved and business-like.

In general, differences also appear in the use of greetings, sign-offs, language directness, formality, and level of personal connection, reflecting broader cultural values such as individualism, collectivism, power distance, and communication style in each region. ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

If you want, a more detailed breakdown by specific countries or cultural clusters can be provided.

References

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