Emails reveal your social standing and intelligence

A PERSON'S intelligence and social status are judged within seconds by the way they write an email, experts said today.

Research shows first impressions from an email are as important as those from a phone call or meeting.

Psychologist Graham Jones warned that too many people do not understand the basics of email, and make mistakes such as poor spelling and adopting an overly formal tone.

Mr Jones, who advises firms on internet behaviour, said: "People really need to think about what they are writing. If you make it too formal, or overly friendly, then the chances are people will ignore it."

It comes after Gordon Brown was involved in a row over inappropriate emails sent by his press aide Damian McBride. Mr McBride resigned after sending memos threatening to smear individuals in the Tory party.

His conspiratorial use of "Dear Gents" in the message showed he was crossing the line from business, psychologists say.

Mr Jones said: "Before you send something, always read it to yourself as if you were talking. If it is relaxed and chatty, you stand a better chance of engaging with people."

The study, conducted by email firm GMX, analysed more than 1,900 regular email users. It reveals 54 per cent base their first impression of someone on the style and tone of emails.

Intelligence was the most common aspect to be judged (40 per cent), followed by age (20 per cent) and social status (16 per cent).