Netiquette or net etiquette refers to behavior in the online classroom. Syllabi for online classes contain netiquette expectations, just as hybrid courses might express face-to-face classroom and online classroom etiquette expectations.

While face-to-face classroom etiquette has to do with policies on dress code, professional/collegial behavior, whether or not cell phones/laptops are allowed, etc., some common netiquette practices in online courses are as follows:

Consider the following best practices for fully online communication and coursework:

• be careful with yours and others’ personal information
• treat everyone with respect in all forms of communication
• if you disagree with someone, express your differing opinion in a respectful, nonjudgmental manner
• be cautious using humor or sarcasm; tone can be easily misunderstood in written communication and your message may be perceived as being offensive
• if a post brings intense emotions in you, do not respond to it until your feelings have cooled off
• as a rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t say it to a person face to face, do not type it
• avoid using all caps and/or red font as they are the written equivalent of shouting or screaming
• be forgiving when you see others struggling; anyone can make a mistake
• you can’t take communication back, so spellcheck and think twice before you post or reply
• keep your message clear and on focused on the topic at hand
• be as concise as possible while still delivering the full weight of your message
• write posts in your own words and always give proper credit when referencing or quoting sources
• read all discussion postings and respond to a variety of classmates, giving priority to those peers whose posts received few or no responses
• avoid responding to discussion posts with generic replies such as “I agree”; add substance to the discussion by explaining and supporting your statements
• always ground your arguments with academic or professional evidence from the course or from your own research
• explain uncommon abbreviations and acronyms before you use them
• be sensitive and reflective to what others are saying
• keep the dialog collegial and professional.