Seeing Red in Business Emails

When senders change specific verbiage within an email to the color red, they make a point—and a strong point—that may raise more questions than clarity.

Using red to indicate emphasis is an extra effort the sender makes to ensure the recipient understands how strongly they feel about the topic—a purposeful action with intent.

Colors Have Meaning

Most know that red is viewed as aggressive. In addition, red is known as an intentionally intense, high-visibility color. That is why red is often used to emphasize only specific points.

“Seeing red” means that someone is mad or so upset that they see red. This has led to folks emailing me asking, “What did they mean by using red for certain words in their email?” This is usually followed by, “Were they yelling at me?”

Making a Point

The sender meant to make a point and add strong emphasis by ensuring those words mainly catch your attention. Yes, they were using a louder voice but not yelling at you, as typing in all caps would indicate.

Now, typing in all red caps without a doubt reflects the sender as upset and unmistakably wanting you to know that. Regarding your business emails, if you have the itch to type in caps and turn them red, it may be best for you to cool off. Wait until the following day to respond when cooler heads can prevail.

Use Words, Not Color

I’ve been emailing longer than most, and I have never changed the text to red as a tool to communicate tone or emphasis in my business emails. You don’t selectively “red” words on your business letterhead, so why would you do it in an email?

Because you can? That’s why some reading this article are unsure of precisely what is meant by doing so. In my experience, those who turn text to red do so to make an aggressive point.

However, when red text is used for emphasis, the other side determines the level of intensity. This will vary based on the overall context of the email and the relationship between the communicators. Therefore, why not choose the right words that relay your intent and tone instead?

The English language offers a plethora of words to choose from to make your point. So, grow your vocabulary in place of jumping for the formatting bar.

Growing your vocabulary involves consistent exposure to new words and deliberate practice using them. One of the most effective ways is to read widely across various subjects—books, articles, and essays—because reading introduces you to unfamiliar words in different contexts.

When you encounter new words, make a habit of looking up their meanings and noting them down. Keeping a vocabulary journal or using physical or digital flashcards can help reinforce learning. Apps like Anki or Quizlet are particularly useful for spaced repetition, which is vital to remembering words long-term.

Another critical strategy is actively incorporating new words into your speech and writing. Practice using them in sentences, and don’t be afraid to experiment, even if you’re not sure you’re using them ideally at first.

Engaging in conversations or writing exercises where you can apply your expanding vocabulary strengthens your recall and fluency. You can also play word games like Scrabble, crossword puzzles, or online vocabulary quizzes to make learning enjoyable and interactive. The more you immerse yourself in a language-rich environment, the more naturally your vocabulary will grow.

Avoid Aggression

Red has a long history of being an aggressive color. For the ancient Romans, a red flag was a signal for battle. Because of its visibility, stop signs, stoplights, brake lights, and fire equipment are all painted red.

Turning selected text into red is the easy way out and is a dicey approach. Instead, use your vocabulary to communicate what you mean: your anger, passion, and emphasis.

If you are “seeing red,” know that the sender wanted to make a point to you— there is no need to wonder what they meant by doing so. And if you change the text to red, don’t be surprised if the recipient’s response indicates they saw red and responded in kind.

For more… What to Do About Angry Business Emailers (Flamers).