Gentry: Want to break up? Don't do it by email

How often do you send business email and include an emoji in it?

You know, one of those smiley faces, sometimes with its tongue out, or maybe the clapping hands or the thumb up gesture.

If your answer to that question is never, congratulations. You are on your way to having good business email etiquette.

As more and more business – both professional and personal – is handled through email, there has been a tendency for many people to forget the need to be professional, especially with people we don't normally deal with.

My biggest pet peeve: Its annoying 2 get emails from ppl u dont no and 4 sum reason they loose control of there communication skills. It was hard for me just to type those mistakes.

I'm perfectly fine with informal. I'm a jeans and boots person. But leave the text message shorthand where it belongs – in the drawer of never used things.

Business Insider has put together a list of common mistakes you should avoid. Here are a few from the list:

Not using a greeting or closing. Don't just jump right in with the insult about something I wrote, say "Good morning" first. and when you're through with the insult, don't forget to close with "Sincerely, me."

Being too formal. If you have read any of my columns, feel free to call me Jeffrey. My formal title of "Jeffrey the most awesome person in the world" is far too long. Business Insider says "your email opening should always reflect your relationship with that person" and I consider us all friends here.

Saying "to whom it may concern." I'll assume it doesn't concern me. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman told Business Insider this greeting is the email kiss of death.

Forgetting to change the subject line. If you sent me an email about your group's charity efforts but left the subject line from the rooftop sex email you last sent out, I'm going to be disappointed after I hurriedly opened it to read it.

Hitting "reply all." Need I say more?

And finally, don't make the mistake of saying something through email that should be done face-to-face. If you're going to break up with me, do it face-to-face – or at least on Skype. I want you to see the look of relief on my face that I didn't have to do it to you.

Hope that helps. Looking forward to your emails.

Share in the Only in Delaware conversation 24/7 on delawareonline. Contact Jeffrey Gentry at jgentry@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeffreygentry