![Outlook email text only message to rich text format](https://cdn3.cdnme.se/5447227/9-3/1_64e61dfaddf2b33c615a3cd3.png)
Common alternatives are RTF (rich-text format) or HTML (web page format). If you are going crazy because many people are sending you what appears to be gibberish, here's how to read those messages. If you expect your message to be understood and welcome, it is imperative that you learn to avoid sending unreadable messages. This can be extremely frustrating for your readers. It is ever easier to send e-mail that is unreadable, without even knowing that you are doing so. E-Mail software vendors have responded by adopting ways of easily creating formatted messages, but senders must understand that not all recipients can read formatted messages.
![outlook email text only message to rich text format outlook email text only message to rich text format](http://www.msoutlookware.com/img/mail/rich-text-format.png)
But now computer users expect to be able to use formatting to help get their point across more effectively. Plain text used to be just fine for communicating. Plain text consists of letters, numbers, and limited punctuation it does not allow formatting like italic, bold, underline, or different margins, type-faces (fonts), sizes, colors, tables, and pictures. Unfortunately, however, the most universal standards are sort of a "lowest common denominator" assuring only that plain-text messages are readable by everyone. Electronic Mail is an extremely powerful and effective way to communicate because it is a standard way for computers to exchange messages, regardless of what type of computer or e-mail program is in use by the sender and recipient.
![Outlook email text only message to rich text format](https://cdn3.cdnme.se/5447227/9-3/1_64e61dfaddf2b33c615a3cd3.png)