We’ve all had someone send us a less than pleasant email, and it can be tough to figure out the best ways to respond to a rude email in the heat of the moment. For starters, it’s difficult to actually know if the person meant to be rude or not at times, since most of the time, we might not know the person emailing us on a personal level enough to judge if they meant any harm or not. Or, perhaps we don’t know them well enough to know if they’re just moody and don’t know how to deal with people. We don't know if we’ve upset them and they are truly being rude or mad at us for whatever reason, and it can leave us frustrated that we’re not there in person with them to directly defend ourselves. Whatever the case, and whether you’re dealing with a co-worker, boss, friend, family member, or just a stranger, be sure you know the best ways to respond to a rude email to maintain professionalism, class and a good repertoire.
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Wait an Hour
The most important of all ways to respond to a rude email is to actually not respond at all initially. Exit out of the email and just let yourself “sit” with it for around an hour at least, if not an entire day. You don’t need to respond right away, because your response will be completely in defense, and most likely sound unprofessional, defensive, and you won’t be able to truly say what you feel due to clouded anger. You also need to wait in order to see if perhaps you’re reading incorrectly in between the lines of what the email says. Many, many issues can cause someone to send you a rude email, that might not have anything to do with you. Jealousy, stress, misunderstanding, intimidation, lack of knowledge about how to deal with people, etc. are all some reasons someone might send you a rude email without you deserving it. Think about perhaps why they sent it if you don’t already know, and don’t respond right away.
Be Professional
Next, when you’re responding to someone who sends you a rude email, be professional about it. Don’t write about how mad at them you are, or get defensive. It only makes you seem childish, and will likely start an email quarrel, which is just silly. Instead, be professional about it, and show them you’re the bigger person. This can help you not only learn how to deal with upsets in life better, but also teach you how to rise above someone else being rude, which will likely happen more than just this once.
When responding to a rude email, it is important to remain professional. Writing about how mad you are or getting defensive will make you seem childish and can lead to an email quarrel. It is best to be the bigger person and rise above the rudeness.
Being professional can also help you learn how to handle upsetting situations better in the future. It is a valuable life skill and can help you maintain composure in difficult situations.
In addition to being professional, it is important to take a step back and consider the other person’s perspective. It can be easy to take things personally when someone is rude, but it is important to remember that the other person may be having a bad day or going through a difficult time.
It is also important to remember that you should not respond to a rude email immediately. Take a few minutes to cool off and think about how you should respond. This will help you avoid saying something you may later regret.
Finally, it is important to be polite and respectful when responding to a rude email. If you can, try to turn the conversation into something more positive. This will help you maintain a positive relationship with the other person.
Frequently asked questions
Shake It off
You can’t change that someone sent you a rude email, so why let it ruffle your feathers? It’s best to shake it off and just see it “as business”. This kind of thing is bound to happen to all of us once in a while. Shake it off, and keep going about your day. Handle it with a light heart, and you’ll most likely handle it much better overall. Even if it upsets you to the core, try to just shake it off and keep moving right along.
One of the best ways to respond to a rude email is to shake it off. It can be difficult to ignore an email with hurtful words, but it’s important to do so for your own mental health. When faced with a rude email, take a few moments to breathe and remind yourself that you can’t control what someone else says or does. Then, try to see the situation “as business” and move on with your day.
Shaking off a rude email can be a challenge, especially if it’s from someone you know and trust. It’s important to remember that emotions are normal and it’s okay to feel hurt or angry. However, it’s important to not let your emotions get the best of you. Instead, take the time to process your feelings and then move on.
In addition to shaking off the email, it’s important to take some time to practice self-care. This could include taking a walk, listening to music, or talking to a friend. Taking care of yourself is essential for dealing with difficult emotions.
Apologize
Whether you’re in the wrong or not, the best way to handle someone who sends you a rude email is to start the email with, “I’m sorry” after the initial greeting. This will be the last thing you actually want to do, but hear me out. You need to apologize that they’re upset with you, but not apologize for anything you did if you’re not in the wrong. When you start out an email with, “Dear, ****, I’m truly sorry that you’re upset about this situation, however I am sure we can come to some understanding on this,” or something similar to that, the other person’s defenses are immediately dropped. Then, most likely, they’ll feel silly for sending you a rude email, when clearly you’re so fabulously professional at handling yourself better than they are.
The best way to handle a rude email is to start by apologizing even if you are not in the wrong. Apologizing will make the other person feel heard and understood and will likely make them feel silly for sending such a rude email. Once the apology is out of the way, you can then calmly explain the situation and come to a resolution.
In addition to apologizing, it is important to remain professional and not to stoop to their level. Even if the other person is being rude, it is important to stay calm and collected and to not respond in the same manner. Additionally, it is important to stay firm and not to let the other person’s rudeness sway your opinion or course of action.
It is also important to remember that emails are often misinterpreted and that the other person may be having a bad day. It is important to remain understanding and to not take the email personally. It is also important to remember that you have the right to defend yourself and to not take the blame for something you did not do.
Don’t Take It Personally
Though the email might sound personal, try not to take a rude email to heart, even if the person knows you on a personal level. It’s really difficult to read in between the lines when it comes to email correspondence. We don’t know variable circumstances like if they got enough sleep last night making them extra moody, or if they’re hungry and moody, or if their boss upset them that day. They could have even got in a fight at home, or be having money troubles. Sometimes, we all handle situations rudely when we wished we hadn’t because other factors in our lives caused us to be “short circuited” as I call it. Don’t take it personally when someone sends you a rude email. It’s just a waste of your precious energy.
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Keep It Short and Sweet
When emailing the person back, after writing the initial apology, you should also keep the email short and sweet. No need to go on and on about things. Just respond professionally, and in a mature manner. Other than that, there’s no need to get into details. It can only lead you to leak that you’re upset by their email, which won’t help matters at all.
Find the Middle Ground
When responding to a rude email, if it’s a business or personal email, you should try to come to some understanding with the individual at some point. It’s never a good idea to leave things in a negative light. After you respond to them professionally, do your best to end things on a high note, while also being fair to yourself. If you truly didn’t deserve the rude email, then there’s no need to try to continue the partnership or relationship after your reply to them. The choice is up to you. If it’s a relationship you have to maintain for business or for personal reasons, then simply do your best to meet them in the middle road without causing an upset. If that’s not possible, at least do your best to respond as professionally as possible, and leave it at that, knowing you tried.
It’s never easy to learn how to respond to rude emails. We’ve all had someone be rude to us before, and it’s one of my least favorite emails to get, as I’m sure it is yours too. How do you respond to a rude email?
When it comes to responding to rude emails, it is important to remember to remain professional and not take it personally. It is essential to keep in mind that the other person may not have the same intentions as you do and that it is not always a personal attack. It is also important to take a step back and think before responding.
In addition, it is important to find a middle ground with the individual. This can be done by responding in a professional manner and trying to end things on a positive note. If it is a business relationship, it is important to maintain the partnership without causing an upset. If it is a personal relationship, it is important to do your best to meet them in the middle without causing any more tension.
When it comes to dealing with rude emails, it is also important to take some time to cool off before responding. This will help you to think more clearly and respond in a more professional manner. It is also important to remember that it is okay to set boundaries and not allow someone to be rude to you.
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