Introduction
Do you find yourself struggling to express emotions or convey tone in your emails? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Emails can be notoriously difficult to interpret without tone of voice or facial expressions. However, emojis can help bridge that communication gap. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to add emojis into their Outlook emails. That’s where this article comes in – we’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions, keyboard shortcuts, copy and paste tricks, and add-ons, to help you effectively use emojis in your emails.
Step-by-Step Guide
Adding an emoji from Outlook’s built-in library is a relatively simple process. Here’s how:
1. Open a new email message.
2. Position your cursor where you want to insert the emoji.
3. Click on the “Insert” tab located in the ribbon.
4. Select the “Emoji” option from the drop-down menu.
5. Browse the library for the emoji you want to insert, or use the search function to find it faster.
6. Click on the desired emoji to insert it into your email.
It’s important to keep in mind that emojis may not appear the same in different devices, operating systems, or email clients. Some emojis may also not be supported. Also, use emojis sparingly in business emails or formal situations, as it may not be appropriate.
Keyboard Shortcut Method
Using keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up the process of adding emojis in your emails. Here are some of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts:
1. Windows 10: Windows key + .
2. MacOS: Control + Command + Spacebar.
3. Outlook web app: Semi-colon ; then a pop-up appears with emojis selection.
You can customize your shortcuts for emojis in Outlook, too. Here’s how:
1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on “File” and select “Options”.
3. Click on “Mail” in the left-hand menu.
4. Scroll down to the “Message format” section and select “Editor Options”.
5. Click on “Proofing” in the left-hand menu.
6. Under the “AutoCorrect Options”, click “Emoji” and input your preferred keyboard shortcut.
Copy and Paste Technique
In case some emojis are not available in Outlook’s library or you need high-quality images, another option is to copy and paste emojis from websites or other sources into your emails. Here’s how:
1. Select the emoji you would like to use.
2. Right-click on it and select “Copy”.
3. Place your cursor where you want to paste the emoji in your email.
4. Right-click and select “Paste”.
Keep in mind that copied emojis may have different sizes and formats. To control the image size, use the formatting tools in Outlook’s ribbon.
Installing an Emoji Add-On
If you frequently use emojis in your emails, it may be worth installing an emoji add-on. These add-ons can give you access to a wider range of emojis, customize shortcuts, and offer other features. Here are some popular add-ons you can consider:
1. Emoji Keyboard by JoyPixels – available for free on Microsoft Store for Windows.
2. Emoji Cheatsheet – available as browser extensions, and can be used with Outlook Web App.
Emojis for Different Occasions
Are you unsure about which emojis to use in different situations? Here are some examples of appropriate and useful emojis to use in various types of emails:
1. Professional emails – avoid using emojis or use sparingly. If you choose to use it, use simple faces such as smiling face or thumbs up.
2. Personal emails – more relaxed, you can use more playful emojis like laughing face- while not too many colorful ones.
3. Celebratory emails – party poppers, balloons, and clinking champagne glasses.
4. Condolence emails – heart, prayer hand.
5. Holiday emails – corresponding holiday emojis (Santa Claus for Christmas, fireworks for New Year’s Eve, and so on).
As always, use your discretion when using emojis in your emails. You don’t want to inadvertently use an inappropriate or confusing one.
Using Outlook’s Built-In Emojis
Outlook provides a diverse library of emojis that can be used to enhance email communication. To access this library, follow these steps:
1. Open up a new email.
2. Click on the “Insert” tab located in the ribbon.
3. Select the “Emoji” option from the drop-down menu.
4. Browse the library to find the right emoji.
Note that only a limited number of emojis are available in Outlook. However, this ensures that the emojis used will be consistent with the recipient.
How Emojis Can Enhance Communication
Emojis can greatly enhance digital communication – especially when tone, nuance, or emotions need to be expressed. They can convey sentiment in a more personal manner and add a certain level of humanity to the text. Here are some tips on how you can enhance communication through emojis:
1. Use emojis sparsely – overloading your emails with emojis can make you come off as unprofessional or immature.
2. Proper usage- be mindful while sending emojis as sometimes certain emojis can be misconstrued and improper usage might hurt the meaning you’re trying to convey.
3. Tone matching- use emojis that match the sentiment of the emails.
Conclusion
Adding emojis to your Outlook emails does not have to be a daunting task. Hopefully, this article has provided you with the necessary guidance to confidently use Outlook’s built-in library, keyboard shortcuts, copy and paste techniques, and add-ons. Remember to use emojis appropriately and sparingly, and always consider the context of your emails. Happy emailing with enhanced communications!
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