When writing emails in English in the United States, one interesting commonality stands out.

It's that "there is no right answer." Working in real estate, I exchange emails with many clients, mortgage companies, escrow companies, construction firms, and countless American businesses, and there are no strict rules about how long a sentence should be or how the first sentence should start.

Yet, new employees in the U.S. begin to write emails in a similar format, and as companies grow, that pattern becomes more pronounced. The reason is simple: it's not something taught in school, but rather a kind of unwritten rule passed down naturally from seniors after joining the company. New employees are often nervous about writing their first email, but by continuously observing emails from team leaders or managers, they learn, "Ah, this is how it should be written."

So, when you visit large corporations, mid-sized companies, or professional firms in the U.S., it's fascinating to see that the email styles of new hires are surprisingly similar. They typically follow this flow: the first sentence clearly states the purpose, followed by a few sentences of background information, and finally, a request for action or a question. The basic structure of American business emails is simply "purpose-explanation-request." This format is followed to save the reader's time.

Interestingly, the people who most disregard this format are those with "power." Whether it's a client, a CEO, or a founder, the more power someone has, the less they adhere to email formats. This is a common phenomenon in the U.S. When you read emails from a boss in a high position or an important client, you often find sentences lacking punctuation, capitalization, and coherence.

For example, if you send an email to a CEO, their reply might just be "ok proceed" in two words. In fact, emails from CEOs, founders, or partner-level executives in large American companies often resemble text messages. They prioritize "quick communication" over email etiquette or format because they spend their time as if it were money. They already hold absolute authority within the company, and no one questions their writing style. Thus, the more unconventional the format, the more it conveys the impression of being a "busy and important person."

In contrast, if a new employee or mid-level staff writes in the same style, it becomes an issue. This is because they need to earn trust from others. Comments like "I don't understand the purpose of that person's email" or "the sentences are disorganized" directly relate to their work competency. Therefore, new hires follow the basic format, team leaders gradually incorporate their own style, and senior executives often switch to "text message-style emails," creating an interesting hierarchy.

There's a joke among those who have worked in American companies for a long time: "The shorter the email, the higher the person's rank." This saying is partly a joke, but for those in the field, it's almost a fact.

In conclusion, while there is no right answer for emails, there are implicit rules that have naturally established themselves in American workplace culture. No one teaches these rules, but everyone learns in the same way, and conversely, it's common to see those in power break these rules. Ultimately, the format of an email can be seen not as a tool to prove skill or etiquette, but rather as a cultural signal reflecting one's role and position within the organization.