Many of us have email addresses with a period between our first and last name. And as responsible internet users, we make sure to add this period when sending out emails and giving our address to others. However, did you know that Gmail simply ignores these periods?
In fact, the Google help page contains a statement regarding the dots in which they claim that you can add or remove as many periods as you like.
For example, if your email address is donaldtrump@gmail.com, you own all the dotted versions of the address.
donald.trump@gmail.com
don.ald.tr.ump@gmail.com
d.o.n.a.l.d.t.r.u.m.p@gmail.com
Nevertheless, if your workplace uses a Gmail address, avoid putting dots in the work email – the feature is only applicable to @gmail.com email addresses (it won't work with custom domain names and their email addresses).
Apparently, most online services are concerned about the dots used in their relevant addresses. However, Gmail and Facebook are the only few who don’t care about username dots as studied by Slate writer Will Oremus.
Take for example the email address donald.trump@gmail.com that is used as a primary account. However, when giving out your email address to someone who might potentially spam you, give him or her the don.ald.tr.ump@gmail.com address.
Moving on, from your Gmail settings you can create a folder/filter so all emails sent to the spam email address are saved in that folder automatically. Extra periods in an email address can also be added to sign up for a second account on a website without creating a new account.
Read Next: How To Be A Gmail Power User [INFOGRAPHIC]
In fact, the Google help page contains a statement regarding the dots in which they claim that you can add or remove as many periods as you like.
For example, if your email address is donaldtrump@gmail.com, you own all the dotted versions of the address.
donald.trump@gmail.com
don.ald.tr.ump@gmail.com
d.o.n.a.l.d.t.r.u.m.p@gmail.com
Nevertheless, if your workplace uses a Gmail address, avoid putting dots in the work email – the feature is only applicable to @gmail.com email addresses (it won't work with custom domain names and their email addresses).
Apparently, most online services are concerned about the dots used in their relevant addresses. However, Gmail and Facebook are the only few who don’t care about username dots as studied by Slate writer Will Oremus.
A secret spam address
Nevertheless, did you know that the periods in your email address could also help categorize your inbox? Since the dots provide users with an alternate email address, you can conveniently pick one and make it your defacto spam address.Take for example the email address donald.trump@gmail.com that is used as a primary account. However, when giving out your email address to someone who might potentially spam you, give him or her the don.ald.tr.ump@gmail.com address.
Moving on, from your Gmail settings you can create a folder/filter so all emails sent to the spam email address are saved in that folder automatically. Extra periods in an email address can also be added to sign up for a second account on a website without creating a new account.
Read Next: How To Be A Gmail Power User [INFOGRAPHIC]
I STRONGLY beg to differ. My email has a dot in it. All of a sudden, I started receiving emails that were meant for someone else. The email is identical to my own, except it has no dots. I get this persons emails all the time, and when I look at who the email was directed to, it's to the other email account without dots.
ReplyDeleteI've reached out to Google a few times and have even shown them proof. They claim it's a fluke and that it's an extreme rarity, yet this happens weekly if not multiple times per week.
I've reached out to the owner (by sending myself an email without the dot) and he replied, confirming that he did have and was actively using the email. He also had no idea that some of his emails were going to me. We're talking banking and other personal information. At one point, I received a password reset meant for him.