Emails are now at the point where they are overtaking letters as the preferred form of communication.

Emails, traditionally, are more informal and ‘matey’ as well as being far more (though not completely) instantaneous. My pet bugbear is that, with their informality, many senders fail to quote the recipient’s reference: the result being that time is lost while somebody walks around the office asking if anyone knows who an email from ‘Amanda’ - possibly relating to a conveyancing matter but that could equally relate to a divorce - actually belongs to.

If only senders would quote references, it would be easy for reception staff to print them out, attach them to the relevant file, and deliver them for prompt attention.

RM Napier, Albinson Napier & Co, Warrington