Posted by When we create an email address, most don’t consider the little details in the syntax. When we create an email address, every character matters. One common question that often arises like whether you can or should use a dash (“-“) in your email address. That’s nothing to worry about until it arrives.
Ultimately, you want an email address that works smoothly and looks professional, right? However, understanding the rules regarding the use of the dash in email addresses can save you a lot of headaches down the line—whether you’re setting up a personal account, creating a business email, or troubleshooting a problem. By diving into the details, you can make sure your email address functions as expected and avoid common pitfalls.
Let’s explore whether using a dash in your email address is a good idea, and what you need to keep in mind while using dashes in email addresses.
Can you use a dash in your email address? Follow email address syntax rules.
There are two main parts to an email address: the local part (before @ symbol) and the domain part (after @). Both must follow certain rules to be valid.
For the local part, you can use letters, numbers, and symbols like periods, underscores, and dashes. The domain part typically includes letters, numbers, and periods to separate domain levels (e.g., gmail.com).
However, while dashes can appear in the local part of an email address, their use in domain names is rare and generally discouraged, though there are exceptions.
Now, let’s explore whether dashes are suitable for your email address.
The Rules Around Dash in Email Addresses
Yes, dashes can be used in email addresses. The rules for a valid email address are defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and as per these rules, dashes are permitted in the local part (before the “@” symbol) of the email address.
For example, the following email addresses are valid:
A few restrictions, however, should be taken into consideration:
First and Last Characters: A dash cannot appear at the start or end of the local part of the email address. So, “[email protected]” or “[email protected]” would not be valid.
Continuous Dashes: Consecutive dashes (e.g., “john–[email protected]”) are generally not recommended, even if they are technically allowed.
While you technically can use dashes in email addresses, the real question is whether you should.
What are the Pros of Using Dashes in Email Addresses?
There are some benefits to using dashes in email addresses; here’s why you might want to consider them.
Improved Readability
Dashes can make an email address more readable. For example, “[email protected]” is typically easier to read and recognize compared to “[email protected],” especially if you’re trying to represent a name or a group (e.g., “[email protected]”).
Separation of Words
In many cases, dashes serve as a clear separator between words, which can be beneficial when trying to create a professional email address for a business. For example, “[email protected]” is much clearer than “[email protected].”
Branding and Professionalism
If you’re creating an email address for a business or brand, using dashes it may allow for cleaner, more professional formatting. It helps avoid long strings of characters and makes the email address more memorable and user-friendly.
What is the Impact of Dashes on Email Marketing Campaigns?
If you are managing email marketing campaigns, and using dashes in email addresses there are positive and negative effects. Let’s break them down:
Positive Impact: Branding
For businesses, using dashes in email addresses can contribute to strong branding. A well-structured, easy-to-read email address can help your customers identify your brand more easily and improve your credibility. It benefits customer support or department-specific addresses, like “[email protected].”
Negative Impact: Deliverability Concerns
Some email service providers and validation systems may have trouble with email addresses that contain non-standard characters, like dashes. For example, if you’re sending mass emails to customers, using dashes in your “From” address could impact your sender’s reputation. It’s essential to test your email deliverability before deciding whether dashes suit your email address.
The Best Practices for Using Dashes in Email Addresses
These are some best practices to follow when choosing or setting up an email address:
1. Keep It Professional
If you are setting up an email address for work or business, avoid using overly personal names and with too many special characters. A simple, professional email address is easier for clients or colleagues to trust and remember.
2. Test Deliverability
Before using a dash in your email address for work or business communications, thoroughly test your email campaigns. Check if your emails are properly delivered to inboxes without being flagged as spam.
3. Ensure Consistency
When promoting your email address, be consistent in how you present it. Avoid switching between dashes and other separators, such as underscores or periods, as this can confuse your audience.
4. Provide a Backup Contact
If you use dashes in your email address, always provide a secondary way for people to reach you. This could be a phone number or a contact form on your website, so users have an alternative method in case they make a mistake while typing the email address.
The best way to find out if your email address lists are valid
Manually verifying email addresses can be a time-consuming and error-prone task, especially when dealing with large lists. Different email service providers (ESPs) have varying validation processes, making it even more complicated.
Instead of struggling with manual checks, you can streamline the process with myEmailVerifier. This tool offers efficient email verification, ensuring that your emails reach real, active users while minimizing bounce rates and maintaining campaign success. Save time, avoid mistakes, and improve your email deliverability with a free email verification tool.
FAQs
Can I add Dash to the email addresses?
Yes, you can add hyphens to email addresses as many email providers accept them. Every email service provider does not allow the use of special characters in email addresses. Therefore, it is better to check this option before choosing a supplier.
When can I use Dash on my email address?
You can use a dash in the username section of your email address. You can also add a hyphen to your domain. In this case, the domain section of your email address will also have a dash.
Why do some email providers not allow Dashes in email addresses?
Some email providers don’t allow dashes in email addresses. This is because special characters can sometimes cause compatibility and formatting issues with email systems. Moreover, providers can simplify the email address system and reduce the chance of errors by not allowing dashes, just letters.