Emails have been a dominant form of communication in business, academic, and information sharing settings since their invention in 1971 (Bellis 1). The idea behind email was the ability to send short, important messages to a computer other than the one in use at the time (Bellis 1). Although seemingly simple at the time, the idea has grown into something so vast that it has become a driving force in today's society. Interestingly enough, the first email ever sent according to the article "History of Email & Ray Tomlinson" by Mary Bellis was actually sent to an adjacent computer containing the character sequence "QWERTYUIOP" (Bellis 1). Emails are used in a wide variety of situations, each requiring unique formatting and specified information. Each email type includes a welcome message and a closing statement, some containing signatures and files. The specifics of these depend on the formality and familiarity of the recipient. With little change in the very concept of an email, the way an email is composed has changed greatly over time and social circumstances. Formal communication that occurs almost instantly while maintaining a high level of respect has become a luxury that many take for granted every day. day. Before email and the Internet, the most formal communication between two people was done with ink and paper. Writing a letter showed that one took the time to show appreciation and respect for the recipient. Unfortunately, letters had to be either hand delivered or mailed. Whatever the option, it took time before a response worth receiving became possible. Formal email communication may take place between, but is not limited to, a student and a professor, an employee and an employer, or two people of equivalent status who have not met in the middle of a sheet of paper ......Oral emails have a higher rate of scalability than formal emails due to the excess flexibility offered in this style. Ads will likely continue to invade many people's inboxes, even though some features have been and continue to be developed in this direction. Email will become what people make of it. There are no strict rules governing emails, leading to an intriguing level of influence caused by users. What will the structure retain in future generations? Only time will tell. Works Cited Acevedo, Laura. “The Benefits of Email in Business Communication.” Small business. Media on demand, and Web. May 15, 2014. Bellis, Mary. “History of Email and Ray Tomlinson.” About.com Inventors. About.com, and Web. May 15, 2014. Merriam-Webster. Encyclopedia Britannica, nd Web. May 15 2014. .