Do you use indentation for readability?

Written communication can easily cause misunderstandings. Help the reader understand your message better by:

* Using “>” and indentation when quoting the text from others, like the original email you are replying to.\
  **Note:** “>” is not needed when quoting from a web page
* Make the question/task followed by the respective answer in a logical order
* [Add numbers to tasks](/number-tasks-questions) if the sender forgot.\
  Mention you changed the history. E.g. “(added numbers to tasks in the history, so we can clearly refer to them)”
* Your text should be always kept to the left
This way you won't forget any questions in the original email.

**Note:** You do not need to use ">" and indentation, when you are replying to the task that is very clear, because in this case extra text reduces clarity.

<emailEmbed
  from=""
  to="Adam"
  cc=""
  bcc=""
  subject="RE: Change on Northwind app"
  body={<>
    ## Hi Adam

Please change from X to Y\
The program flow logic worries me a bit\
Done. Sorry, this wasn't a final decision - I just put it there for testing purposes
  </>}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "badExample",
    figure: "Bad example - There's too much information with no reasonable order",
    shouldDisplay: true
  }}
/>

<emailEmbed
  from=""
  to="Adam"
  cc=""
  bcc=""
  subject="RE: Change on Northwind app"
  body={<>
    ## Hi Adam

"Please change from X to Y"\
Done - northwind365.com\
"The program flow logic worries me a bit"\
Sorry, this wasn't a final decision - I just put it there for testing purposes
  </>}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "badExample",
    figure: "Bad example - Order is OK, but it's using quotes to reference others' text + no indentation + missing numbers on questions/tasks",
    shouldDisplay: true
  }}
/>

<emailEmbed
  from=""
  to="Adam"
  cc=""
  bcc=""
  subject="RE: Change on Northwind app"
  body={<>
    ## Hi Adam

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; > 1. Please change from X to Y\
Done - northwind365.com\
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; > 2. The program flow logic worries me a bit\
Sorry, this wasn't a final decision - I just put it there for testing purposes
  </>}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "okExample",
    figure: "OK example - Even with ">", indentation and numbers, without spacing the text becomes cramped and hard to read",
    shouldDisplay: true
  }}
/>

<emailEmbed
  from=""
  to="Adam"
  cc=""
  bcc=""
  subject="RE: Change on Northwind app"
  body={<>
    ## Hi Adam

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; > 1. Please change from X to Y

Done - northwind365.com

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; > 2. The program flow logic worries me a bit

Sorry, this wasn't a final decision - I just put it there for testing purposes
  </>}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "goodExample",
    figure: "Good example - You can clearly see the context of each part of the reply",
    shouldDisplay: true
  }}
/>

<asideEmbed
  variant="info"
  body={<>
    
**Tip #1:** When using Outlook, the raw “>” character may be automatically formatted to a “>” bullet point. This change is a problem because it may change to a normal bullet point after being sent. To prevent this issue, press Control+Z to turn it back into the raw “>” character.

**Tip #2:** For those using mobile devices the indentation function is not available, try instead using 3 spaces to indent manually

**Tip #3:** Note the extra line break after each reply... this helps group each question with it's answer

**Tip #4:** If you're quoting someone who already used >, you can use >>

**Tip #5:** Some people also [use a different text color in their reply](/when-you-reply-inline-do-you-use-a-different-color), but this is generally overkill

  </>}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "default",
    figure: 'XXX',
    shouldDisplay: false
  }}
/>

## Markdown

When using Markdown (usually on GitHub), use a "&gt;" symbol to achieve a similar result.


<imageEmbed
  alt="Image"
  size="large"
  showBorder={false}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "default",
    figure: 'Indenting tasks in Markdown',
    shouldDisplay: true
  }}
  src="/uploads/rules/indent/markdown-indentation-editor.png"
/>


<imageEmbed
  alt="Image"
  size="large"
  showBorder={false}
  figureEmbed={{
    preset: "default",
    figure: 'How it looks',
    shouldDisplay: true
  }}
  src="/uploads/rules/indent/markdown-indentation-preview.png"
/>

You can find more info about GitHub Markdown syntax at [Basic writing and formatting syntax](https://docs.github.com/en/github/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax).

**Video:** [Top 10+ Rules to Better Email Communication with Ulysses Maclaren](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAqRokqq4jI)