How to Use "Smileys" in E-mail

Although e-mail is primarily text-based, you can use "smileys" (also called "emoticons") to add both fun and an emotional context to your messages. (For example, a smiley can convey that a joke is meant simply in good fun.) Try these easy examples and experiment with your own designs.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computer Desks
• E-mail Accounts
• Computers
• E-mail Software

1. Type a colon and a closed parenthesis for the standard smiley :)

2. Type a semicolon and a closed parenthesis to wink at someone ;)

3. Type a colon and an uppercase P to stick your tongue out at someone :P

4. Type a colon and a lowercase o to indicate shock or surprise :o

5. Use a hyphen to add a long nose to your smiley :-)

6. Use a lowercase o to add a round nose to your smiley :o)

7. Use a colon and open parenthesis to indicate sadness :( or add a "greater than" symbol to indicate anger >:(

8. Play around with these and other keys to create various faces of your own.

Tips & Warnings

• Letters and standard text symbols can be used to create more than faces. For example, the @ symbol is commonly combined with hyphens and a curved bracket to create a "rose" @-}--

• Make sure your smiley is understandable. People often get carried away with various smiley modifiers with disastrous results. For example, anger, surprise and a round nose >:oo don't mix very well.