This document provides instructions for setting up and using a Gmail email account. It explains what email is, the tools needed to use email like a computer or mobile device with internet access. It then outlines how to set up an email address with Gmail, including choosing a username, password and filling out personal information. The document describes how to compose, send and receive emails, including attaching files, replying, forwarding and deleting emails. It provides tips for email safety and avoiding viruses and spam.

1. An introduction
to Email: Gmail
Huntington Beach Public Library

2. What is Email?
• Email is short for electronic mail.
• You can send and receive messages instantly over the internet.
NO MORE WAITING IN LINE AT THE POST OFFICE.

3. Tools for the job
• a computer with internet access or a phone or tablet.
• an email account with a service provider such as Gmail,
Yahoo, Hotmail, and many more.

4. Lets get on with it! Setting
up email address.
• The Different parts to an email address
• Example email address: cat@gmail.com
• The user name is cat, each user name is
unique
• @ sign after user name.
• An email providers name. Yours will be
Gmail.com

5. Passwords
• The next step is picking a password.
• Pick something that will be easy to remember, but
also hard for others to guess
• Pick a combination of letters and numbers
• Do not use sensitive information, E.G. ATM pin
number

6. Setting up the account
• In the server at the top of your web
browser type www.gmail.com
• It should look like the image on the
bottom of this slide!
• On the bottom right side of the screen
click the create an account.

7. The Next Slide will show
you where you should
be, and also have the
information for you to
register for your own
Gmail account

9. Filling out the personal Information
• Type in your first and last name
• Create your own unique login(user name)
• Pick a password, Re-enter the password
• Pick a security question and answer. You do this
incase you ever forget your password.

10. Filling out personal Information Cont.
• Type in location and birthday.
• Word verification. Type in the word you
see pictured above the text box. (this is
too eliminate virus software from hacking
your account.
• Read and agree to terms of service if you
wish to continue.

11. Sending a message
• Click Compose Mail (top left)
• Parts of an email.
• To : enter the exact email address of your recipient (E.G.)
cat@gmail.com
o For multiple recipients, separate each address with a
comma
• CC : carbon copy
• BCC : BLIND carbon copy – is anonymous
• Subject : the topic of your email – very important
• Body : the message of your email
• Attachments :
• the paperclip symbol - files or photos

12. Sending your first
EMAIL!
• When communicating over email, err on the side of
formality unless it is a family member or close friend.
(I hate when the people close to me are too
formal)!!
• You can attach a file from a flash drive, E.G.
Resume
• Click attach file, then click browse. Find the file you
want attached and click on it. Then click ok. The file
will now be part of your email

13. Sending your first EMAIL
Cont.
• Click send to mail your letter when ready.
• The message will now be in your sent folder
• Remember make sure you want to send the email
the way it is, once sent it is gone forever and you
can’t take it back!
• Spell-check, proofread, etc
• It is now in the sent mail folder

14. Draft box and work
loss
• Don’t worry if you lose your internet
connections or if your cat accidently steps on
your computer and turns it off. When creating
an e-mail the computer will automatically
save your work periodically. If for any reason
you should be interrupted) you can retrieve
your latest work what is called the DRAFT BOX.

15. New Emails
• Inbox: The inbox on the top left will alert you when you
have received mail. It will tell you how many new
messages you have. E.G.
• At the top of each message is a header with information
about the sender, date, and routing of each message.
From: cat@gmail.com
To: dog@gmail.com
CC:
Subject: You are the worst
Date:

16. Reply VS Reply all
• When you hit reply, it will automatically reply to the sender of
the email.
• Reply all, the message will automatically be sent to the person
who sent you the email AND everyone in the TO and CC fields
in the header
• Pay Close attention to this, you don’t want to accidently send
sensitive information

17. Forwarding your email
• When you click on FORWARD, you may share the email
you’ve received by sending it to others.
• You may add your own message before sending.

18. Opening attachments
• To open an attachment, click on the paper click.
• If you don’t know the sender do not open! Could
be a virus.
• You can save the attachment if you want to hold
on to it. If you just want to view it once, click open

19. Deleting mail
• After reading an email you either keep it or delete
it.
• If you delete it, it will be stored in the trash
temporarily
• Gmail will keep your trashed emails for a few
months. So if you accidently delete something,
don’t panic! Look through your trash folder.

20. Viruses, Spam and
Safety
• Viruses: Do not open attachments or click on web
links from an unknown sender.
• A web line is a URL, E.G. www.espn.com
• Safety, never send out personal or financial
information via email. There are a lot of scams out
there, so be careful!
• Spam is junk mail or mass commercial emails. Gmail
catches most of these. If they don’t click on the
email, and more actions at the top of the inbox.
Mark as spam.

21. Don’t forget to sign out!!!
• Sign out is at the top right of your Gmail account.
This protects your privacy!