Netiquette is the set of polite behaviors and unwritten rules people follow when communicating online. The word combines “net” (short for internet) and “etiquette” (the formal word for good manners).

When you email a teacher, you practice netiquette by using a respectful greeting and checking your spelling. When you comment on someone's video, netiquette means not writing mean things just because you're anonymous. In a group chat with friends, netiquette includes not typing in ALL CAPS (which feels like shouting) or sending 47 messages in a row when one would do.

Netiquette matters because online communication lacks the facial expressions and tone of voice that help us understand each other in person. Without those signals, a joke might seem like an insult, or a simple question might sound rude. Good netiquette helps prevent misunderstandings.

Some netiquette basics include thinking before you post, treating others online as you would in person, and remembering that real people will read what you write.