Every email address has an @ sign in the middle, like jordan@school.example. What do you think the part before the @ means? And the part after it?
In this post:
- The parts of an email address
- Setting up an email account with a secure password
- To, Cc, Bcc, subject, body and attachments
- Reply, Reply all and Forward
- An email simulator with four tasks, and a quiz
Email addresses
Email (electronic mail) lets you send messages and files to anyone with an email address, anywhere in the world. An address has two parts:
| Part | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Username | jordan | Chosen by you. It identifies your mailbox. |
| @ | @ | “at” |
| Domain | school.example | The email service or organisation, such as gmail.com, outlook.com or your school’s domain. |
Choose a sensible username, such as your name with a number. A username like coolkid2013 may be fun with friends, but not when you email a teacher or apply for a job one day.
Setting up an account
- Use the account your school gives you if it has one. For a free personal account (such as Gmail or Outlook.com), ask a parent. Most services require you to be at least 13, or need a parent to set it up.
- Go to the service’s sign-up page and enter your name.
- Choose your username. If it is taken, try another.
- Create a secure password (see below).
- Add a recovery phone number or email, so you can get back in if you forget your password.
- Read and accept the terms, then sign in.
Writing an email
Image source: File:Thunderbird 45 text formatting examples.png (Wikimedia Commons)
| Part | What it is for |
|---|---|
| To | The main person (or people) the email is for. Separate several addresses with commas. |
| Cc (carbon copy) | People who should see a copy for their information. Everyone can see who was Cc’d. |
| Bcc (blind carbon copy) | People who get a copy secretly: no one else sees their addresses. Use it when emailing a big group who don’t know each other, to keep addresses private. |
| Subject | A short, clear title, like Science project – Jordan, Form 2B. |
| Body | Your message: a greeting, the message itself and a sign-off with your name. |
| Attachment 📎 | A file sent with the email, such as a document or photo. Click the paperclip. Most services limit attachments to about 20–25 MB. |
Reply, Reply all and Forward
- Reply sends your answer only to the person who sent the email.
- Reply all sends it to the sender and everyone else who received it. Think twice before using it!
- Forward passes the email (and its attachments) on to someone new.
Email manners
- Always write a subject.
- Start with a greeting (Good morning, Ms Ali,) and end with your name.
- Be polite, and avoid ALL CAPITALS. It looks like shouting.
- Check spelling, check the attachment and check the address before you click Send.
- Don’t open attachments or click links in emails from people you don’t know. They could be scams (phishing).
Watch: Cc and Bcc explained
This short video explains when to use Cc and when to use Bcc.
Video: English for Emails: Cc and Bcc explained – British Council – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnSfEklfo34
Activity: email simulator
Try it: four email tasks
This is a pretend email program, and nothing is really sent. Complete the four tasks in order. The program tells you if anything needs fixing before it “sends”.
Address book: msali@school.example, mum@home.example, kayla@mail.example, dev@mail.example, nia@mail.example. You are jordan@school.example.
📥 Inbox (1)
Subject: Science fair reminder
Hello class, remember that the science fair is next Friday. Please bring your posters on Thursday. Ms Ali
📤 Sent
✉️ New message
📎
Activity: Cc, Bcc or neither?
Try it: choose the right box
Where should each address go?
| Your teacher, who you are asking a question | |
| Your parent, who should see the email to your teacher | |
| Thirty parents receiving a class newsletter, who don’t know each other | |
| Your group partner, who needs to reply to you | |
| Your coach, who just needs to know about the change of plan |
Self-check quiz
Click the best answer. You get feedback straight away; only your first click counts towards your score.
1. In the address jordan@school.example, “school.example” is the…
2. Which is the most secure password?
3. You email 30 parents who do not know each other. Where should their addresses go?
4. What does Forward do?
5. What does Reply all do?
6. Which button do you click to add a file to an email?
Related posts on islandclass.org
For later, in Forms 4–5 (CSEC IT): these go deeper and are for when you reach CSEC Information Technology.
Next: Blogs in School and Everyday Life
Syllabus link: Forms 1–3 ICT curriculum, Module 4, Objective 4.6 – setup and use electronic mail.
Attributions to media used in this post:
- Thunderbird 45 text formatting examples.png – Thunderbird: Mozilla Foundation (and its collaborators) – MPL 2 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Video: English for Emails: Cc and Bcc explained – British Council (YouTube)
Updates
2026/10/21
– Fixed the activity code so its buttons keep working.
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.