Comments on: A Low-Fi Solution to E-Mail Overload: Sentenc.es

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:06:51 +0000

Chris: As has been debated above, “less” appears to either be correct or at the very least acceptable in this case. Reason being, I’m using “sentences” as a measurement.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:58:01 +0000

The signature should read “five sentences or fewer”, not “five sentences or less”. To do otherwise is “incorrect in standard English”, according to the New Oxford American Dictionary.

This is not a question of common usage — “less” is just wrong in this situation. It actually does matter.

By: Lara Mae

Lara Mae — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:34:44 +0000

Have you tried Nubli.com yet? Nubli prioritize your inbox to high, medium and low priority, this way you can read what is important first.
They have an iphone app too..

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:35:28 +0000

@Axel – The problem that you described is not the same as the solution that Mike is recommending. While you like to think your site is a parody of Mike’s, I think this is really your way of deflecting direct criticism. All in all, it appears to me that you’re trying to create something controversial to ride on the success of Mike’s idea.

@Mike – Today, I’ve inserted your site into my signature. I’m only going to put it into replies for now (not NEW messages) since I still need to keep my contact info intact when sending out new emails.

By: Regis

Regis — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:46:21 +0000

Mike – this is a fantastic idea! I frequently talk about “matching the message to the medium” (for example, how email is right for certain communications but not others).

Your idea about a 5 sentence limit goes will with this approach, and has made email fun again for me!

Now I have a challenge – get my point across in 5 sentences or less.

This goes really well with other “mindful limitation” techniques like paring down email to only the essential, processing my inbox to empty, and not having an elaborate email filing system to have to maintain.

Thanks for the great idea!

By: get unstuffed » Blog Archive » Five sentences

get unstuffed » Blog Archive » Five sentences — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:53:27 +0000

[...] since it’s a minimal week, what could be more minimal than Mike Davidson’s Five-Sentence Email solution. It’s simple: every single email you send must be five sentences or [...]

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:36:09 +0000

Hi Axel: Be my guest, but I think you’re missing the point a bit. The point isn’t to sacrifice grammar, spelling, or writing prowess. It’s simply brevity for the sake of courtesy and efficiency. One’s appetite for this philosophy is directly proportional to the daily quantity of e-mail one is expected to respond to. If it’s less than 5, it’s unnecessary. If it’s 5-20, it can be helpful. If it’s more than 20, it has undeniable utility.

By: Axel Beckert

Axel Beckert — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:40:39 +0000

While I understand that keeping mails short may save some time, I can;t understand how people can castrate themself by making this a general rule. Especially since the efforts to fit all the to-be-transmitted information in such constraints (like e.g. the 160 characters of a short message) takes more time than just write it the way you want to write it.

So here’s my answer to http://two.sentenc.es/: http://e-mail.is-not-s.ms/

P.S.: No offense, just had to oppose something to this movement. :-)

By: Pen Zen: Bring Clarity to Writing | optimumself.com

Pen Zen: Bring Clarity to Writing | optimumself.com — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:04:17 +0000

[...] Mike D: The Five-Sentence Email Rule [...]

By: Ryan Burnett

Ryan Burnett — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:53:05 +0000

Just read about this in the Lifehacker book “Upgrade Your Life.” Excellent idea that has helped me save some time at work.

By: Five sentences

Five sentences — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:35:11 +0000

[...] Here’s an interesting idea: sentenc.es. [...]

By: The 5 Sentence Solution To Email Overload « Spiddlement

The 5 Sentence Solution To Email Overload « Spiddlement — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:34:53 +0000

[...] Davidson wrote a great post, titledÂ “A Low-Fi Solution To Email Overload: Sentenc.es”, where he explains his idea in detail: “Every e-mail I send to anyone, regardless of subject [...]

By: 21 Easy Hacks to Simplify Your Life | Zen Habits

21 Easy Hacks to Simplify Your Life | Zen Habits — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:38:43 +0000

[...] emails. This works well if you spend too much time writing emails. I got the idea from Mike Davidson, who advocates limiting each email to five sentences or fewer. This forces you to keep your emails [...]

By: Productivité Haiku : l’Art de se limiter à l’Essentiel | Habitudes Zen

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:22:57 +0000

[...] phrase : J’ai eu cette idÃ©e de Mike Davidson , dont l’article est venu avec un timing parfait car je limitais d’autres choses dans [...]

By: Pen Zen: Bring Clarity to Writing | ThinkSimpleNow.com

Pen Zen: Bring Clarity to Writing | ThinkSimpleNow.com — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:41:33 +0000

[...] Mike D: The Five-Sentence Email Rule [...]