Know and Use the Basic Smileys

Smileys are also called emoticons, and this is because they do not always smile. Smileys are a way to convey emotions via email. The most basic smileys include these:

• :-) smiling and generally happy
• :-| indifferent and generally indifferent
• :-( frowning and generally unhappy

I consider another smiley to belong to the very basic smileys, and it is my favorite:

• ;-) winking and generally witty

To use any of these smileys, all you have to do is type them in your email messages whenever you want to express an emotion.

If you or the recipient of the message see nothing but strange characters, try tilting your (or their) head to the left.