How to Send a Message in Plain Text from Gmail

Whether plain is beautiful or rich is always better; whether text — especially in emails — should be just text or the formatting is — at least — half the message; whether rich HTML formatting makes emails easier or hard to read, these are questions easily settled either way with very good, sensible and convincing arguments.

This is One Area Where it Makes Sense to Just Go Along

Since this is so, and since these questions hardly warrant any evangelism under normal conditions, it is usually beneficial to suit the recipient's style when you can. In Gmail, you can easily send messages either using rich HTML formatting or using just plain text.

If you know a recipient prefers plain text emails, avoid formatting.

Send a Message in Plain Text from Gmail

To compose and send an email in pure plain text in Gmail:

• Select Compose Mail from the left navigation bar.
• If you can see a formatting bar, click « Plain text.
  • You can even use the « Plain text link after you have started typing your message. All text will be preserved.
  • If you have already applied formatting to your message, clicking OK will strip it and convert the message to plain text. Hyperlinks will be removed, too, so copy and paste them in plain form before switching to plain text.