More people are reading and writing their e-mail on the move, using mobile hand-held devices such as BlackBerries or cell phones instead of computers. There are significant advantages to being able to read and write e-mail from anywhere but there are some problems. Here are some tips for using e-mail with hand-held devices:

1. Keep messages short. When you’re sending a message to someone who often reads and responds from a hand-held device,keep your message short and to the point and make sure that the most important message is at the beginning.

2. Visualize your message. Remember that the person who reads your message might read it on a computer screen. Think about what your message will look like if it’s full of abbreviations, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Don’t forget that your message could be forwarded to others.

3. If you receive a message that needs a thoughtful response or one better composed on your computer, wait torespond until you’re back at your computer. If you want to, send a quick response letting the sender know that you got the message andwill respond when you have an opportunity. It might bemore efficient — and effective — to make a phone call.

4. Always describe attachments. When sending e-mail to people on the move, always describe attachments (briefly) because they might not be able to see them right away. (In fact, it’s always a good idea to describe attachments).

5. Turn it off! To keep e-mail from engulfing your life, resist the urge to constantly check your hand-held for new messages.