write me vs. write to me

1 2

Share on Facebook

New2grammar

#523604 Fri, 06 Jun 08 12:49 AM

I promise this is my last post.

Sorry if I have confused anyone.

MAIL is uncountable as GG has confirmed. NOTE MAIL is not E-MAIL!

E-mail can be countable and uncountable. GG prefers to say, send an e-mail (uncoutable) message but she also said send an email (countable) is widely used. It's up to you which one you want to use.

I hope this clear things up.

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (7,670)

Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

Grammar Geek

#523609 Fri, 06 Jun 08 01:09 AM

Actually... just to confuse things...

I would say "Send me an e-mail" without a problem. I would not say "He sent it to me in three e-mails." That is, even though I would use the article "an" or "the," I would not actually say "Three e-mails." If I came back from a day off, I wouldn't say "Oh my gosh - I got 512 e-mails!" I'd say "I've got 512 e-mail messages."

BUT... more and more people would say "512 e-mails."

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,195)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Articles

Yoong Liat

#523921 Fri, 06 Jun 08 07:42 PM

'Mail' refers to letters and parcels. It is an uncountable noun.

'Email' is a countable noun. It is a message sent by email.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (5,836)

Yoong Liat

Cool Breeze

#523972 Fri, 06 Jun 08 10:29 PM

Whether e-mail, letter, post card/postcard or whatver you are writing is countable or uncountable is of no consequence. It all depends on the verb.

I'll send you a letter. = I'll send a letter to you.

I'll write you a letter. (Common in AmE.) = I'll write a letter to you. (Preferred in BrE in the old days. These days American usage may have influenced the British and the American English version may not sound so American to them any more.)

Cheers, CB