How do you improve official email writing?

Finally - a good question!

Official emails should be treated as if you were writing your priest/the President/etc.

The tone should be respectful - no jokes, gags, pop culture references, etc.

- Brush up on basic punctuation and grammar.

- DON'T USE ALL CAPS.

- Don't use lots of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! or :-) , or :-O , or :-P or...

- Make sure you know the difference between "your" and "you're", "loose" and "lose". (When in doubt, dictionary.com !)

- Whenever possible, DON'T send the email immediately after you write it. Take as much time as you can spare (after lunch, the next morning, etc. depending on when it has to be sent) and re-look at the email, this time with your "Boss"-hat on. Read it as someone looking for a professional, not someone who is "cool", etc. Cut out the fluff, make it clear and concise.