No excessive punctuation?? No way!!!



JulieK2 | Shutterstock

Eike Schmidt, director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, is so used to artistic masterpieces on the walls that he wants the masterpieces in his email inbox, too.

Related: 4 Easy Steps for Scaling Your Agency with Cold Email

After seven years of running the museum that houses works by Michelangelo and da Vinci, he has laid down the guidelines for what is and isn’t acceptable in work emails by sending out, well, a company-wide email.

Here are Schmidt’s new email commandments, as revealed by Art Net News:

  1. Multiple exclamation points are not allowed!!!!
  2. Using an exclamation point with a question mark is out. Wait, really?!
  3. No bolding of any words or phrases. You may underline for emphasis if necessary.
  4. STOP WRITING IN FULL CAPS. Capital letters should ONLY be used for proper nouns and the beginnings of sentences.
  5. Ellipses…should be used sparingly.

Speaking to the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, Schmidt explained his reasoning for sending out his email masterclass. “There are many employees who write well and many who don’t. Everyone has to improve,” Schmidt said. “Good writing helps everyone to think in the right way.”

Can’t argue with that…or can you???

Related: 9 Types of Lead Magnets That Will Quickly Grow Your Email List

Now, this might make Schmidt seem stodgy and stuck in the past, but Art Net News reports just the opposite. The German museum director is widely considered to be one of the most innovative in the field and is credited with bringing new energy and excitement to the Uffizi, particularly to younger art lovers, per the outlet.

He’s also given his team carte blanche with the museum’s social media accounts and also minted several NFTs, selling one Michelangelo NFT for $170,000 last year.

Let’s just hope blockchain has spell check.



  • These Friends Use an Underrated Strategy to Run a Charcuterie Side Hustle That’s on Track to Make at Least $80,000 in December



  • I’m a Business News Editor, and Even I Fell Victim to an Online Scam That Cost Me $300



  • Switching to a 4-Day Workweek Sounds Like a Great Idea. But Could It Actually Make Burnout Worse?



  • What Is Lensa AI? And Does It Pose Privacy and Ethical Concerns?



  • This Artist Who Made More Than $1 Million Teaching Online Classes Breaks Down How to Earn Big in 2023



  • Here’s Why You Should Drink Coffee Before You Nap



  • Regional Favorites and National Companies Topped the Ranking of America’s Top Restaurant Chains for 2023. Did Your Go-To Make the List?