# Clearer wording for "reply-by-email" function to avoid mishaps

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/clearer-wording-for-reply-by-email-function-to-avoid-mishaps/57501
**Category:** UX
**Created:** [February 16, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/clearer-wording-for-reply-by-email-function-to-avoid-mishaps/57501 "2017-02-16T21:11:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 6

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### Author: ![scombs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/scombs/32/48616_2.png) [@scombs](https://meta.discourse.org/u/scombs)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2017, 10:09am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/clearer-wording-for-reply-by-email-function-to-avoid-mishaps/57501/6 "2017-02-17T10:09:15Z")

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I have had the same issue with replies for private categories with hundreds of people.

A user sent his resume to the group saying he was looking to leave his current job when he thought he was just replying to the last poster. I have had committes refuse to use private categories or PMs because they had no idea who was getting the responses.

The default original email looks like it comes from the user with an image even. You have to check the email address to know that the message isnt a personal email. The email is not visible on mobile The subject line is some help.

Consider the following

> **View Topic** \* or reply to this email. Your response will be published to the group.

I also add a footer with a link to **reply privately** and other items. A key reason was to highlight: **Yo! This is not an email.**

> [@Customize email notification footer with links to reply privately and see user profiles](https://meta.discourse.org/t/email-notification-footer-with-links-for-reply-privately-sender-profile-and-user-profile/50305):
>
> To help transition listserv and email users to the online forum, I added the following footer to the reply-by-email notification. I thought I would share. The email footer View Thread or reply to this email. Your response will be posted to the site and emailed to the group. Reply to sender privately about this topic. Visit sender’s profile for more info. Update your profile and set your email preferences. View Email Tips for help on posting by email. How to implement Admin → Customize →…

The same issue is present for group PMs. A better footer would help.

> [@Email Notification recipients unclear when PM is sent to multiple users](https://meta.discourse.org/t/email-notification-recipients-unclear-when-pm-is-sent-to-multiple-users/26934/13):
>
> I would prefer just adding the recipients to the bottom of the email (just like the web view): and keeping the “reply by email” functions the same. You could add messsaging: “Replies to this message will include all recipients.” If people want to remove users from the reply, they can start a new email or private message. Seems simpler and more consistent with the web user experience.

I like that Discourse starts with basic text that can be customized but I think there are some pitfalls out there for admins and users.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/clearer-wording-for-reply-by-email-function-to-avoid-mishaps/57501)._