Email vs. Mail: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 11, 2023
Email refers to electronic correspondence sent over the internet, while mail typically denotes physical items, like letters or packages, sent via postal services.
Key Differences
Email and mail serve as means of communication and delivery. Email, short for "electronic mail," denotes messages transmitted over the internet. These messages can be exchanged instantaneously between devices, making email a rapid form of communication. Mail, in contrast, commonly refers to physical objects—letters, postcards, packages—that are delivered through postal or courier services.
In terms of format, an email consists of digital content. It may contain text, images, attachments, and links. Recipients access email via computers, smartphones, or tablets. Mail, on the other hand, is tangible. It's something you can touch, and it often comes in envelopes or parcels. People eagerly await the mail carrier to deliver mail to their homes or offices.
In addition to differences in medium and speed, email and mail also diverge in environmental impact. Email, being electronic, doesn't consume paper, whereas traditional mail utilizes paper, envelopes, and other materials. Consequently, a shift toward email might be seen as a more eco-friendly communication option. However, the digital infrastructure behind email also consumes energy.
While both email and mail serve to connect people, the experience they offer is distinct. Receiving an email can provide immediacy and convenience. At the same time, there's a tactile and personal touch associated with physical mail, especially handwritten letters, that email can't replicate.
Comparison Chart
ZMedium
Electronic/Digital
Physical/Tangible
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Delivery Mechanism
Internet
Postal or courier services
Speed
Instantaneous to minutes
Hours to days
Typical Contents
Text, images, links, attachments
Letters, postcards, packages
Environmental Impact
Digital infrastructure energy
Paper, transportation, packaging
Email and Mail Definitions
Digital correspondence exchanged between people using electronic devices.
Could you forward me the email about the meeting?
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A system of sending letters and packages via postal services.
Is the mail system operating normally during the holidays?
A message or document transmitted electronically.
Please check if my email landed in your spam folder.
Any batch of physical items delivered or sent as post.
She sorted the mail into piles of bills and personal letters.
A method of exchanging digital data, documents, or messages.
Use email to send me the report by tonight.
Items sent or to be delivered, especially letters and parcels.
The outgoing mail is kept by the front door.
A system for sending and receiving messages electronically over a computer network.
Materials, such as letters and packages, handled in a postal system
The volume of mail increases around the holidays.
A message or messages sent or received by such a system.
Postal material for a specific person or organization
Could you pick up my mail at the office?.
To send (someone) an email
I'll email you when I know my schedule.
Material processed for distribution from a post office at a specified time
Delivered the morning mail around town.
To send (a message) by email.
A postal system. Used with the, sometimes in the plural
Used the mail to send the supplies.
Advertisements sent through the mails.
(uncountable) A system for transferring messages from one computer to another, usually through a network.
Snail mail
He sent me his details via email.
The advent of email has simultaneously brought our society closer together and farther apart.
Chiefly British A vehicle by which mail is transported.
(uncountable) A quantity of messages sent through an email system.
I am searching through my old email.
My inbox used to allow only 50 MB of email at a time until last year, when they upgraded it to 2 GBs!
Mail or messages sent electronically; email.
(countable) A message sent through an email system.
He sent me an email last week to remind me about the meeting.
I archive my old emails using a cloud-based service.
Flexible armor composed of small overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales.
An email address.
What’s your email?
Don’t send personal messages to my work email.
The protective covering of certain animals, as the shell of a turtle.
(transitive) To send an email or emails to.
She emailed me last week, asking about the status of the project.
Rent, payment, or tribute.
To send (something) through email.
I’ll email you the link.
He emailed the file out to everyone.
To send by a postal system
Mailed the letter yesterday.
(intransitive) To send, or compose and send, an email or emails.
Most teenagers seem to spend almost the whole day emailing and surfing the Web.
To send letters and other material by a postal system.
(computer science) a system of world-wide electronic communication in which a computer user can compose a message at one terminal that is generated at the recipient's terminal when he logs in
To cover or armor with mail.
Communicate electronically on the computer;
She e-mailed me the good news
A bag or wallet.
An account or address used for electronic communication.
I'll give you my email so we can stay in touch.
A bag containing letters to be delivered by post.
The material conveyed by the postal service.
Don't forget to pick up the mail on your way.
(dated) A stagecoach, train or ship that delivers such post.
The postal service or system in general.
He decided to send his declaration by mail.
The letters, parcels, etc. delivered to a particular address or person.
(uncountable) Electronic mail, e-mail: a computer network–based service for sending, storing, and forwarding electronic messages.
A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
(uncountable) Armour consisting of metal rings or plates linked together.
(nautical) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
A spot on a bird's feather; by extension, a spotted feather.
(historical) An old French coin worth half a denier.
A monetary payment or tribute.
Rent.
Tax.
(ditransitive) To send (a letter, parcel, etc.) through the mail.
(ditransitive) To send by electronic mail.
Please mail me the spreadsheet by the end of the day.
(transitive) To contact (a person) by electronic mail.
I need to mail my tutor about the deadline.
(transitive) To arm with mail.
(transitive) To pinion.
A spot.
A small piece of money; especially, an English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V.
Rent; tribute.
A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor.
Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.
A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet mail.
A bag; a wallet.
The bag or bags with the letters, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague.
That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.
A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
To arm with mail.
To pinion.
To deliver into the custody of the postoffice officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by mail; to post; as, to mail a letter.
The bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
The system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office;
The mail handles billions of items every day
He works for the United States mail service
In England they call mail `the post'
A conveyance that transports mail
Any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered;
Your mail is on the table
Is there any post for me?
She was opening her post
(Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
Send via the postal service;
I'll mail you the check tomorrow
Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
Letters and packages delivered by the postal service.
The mail hasn't arrived yet today.
Correspondence or communication sent through postal services.
I received a piece of mail from an old friend.
FAQs
Can I track my mail like I track emails?
Some postal services offer mail tracking, but it's different from email tracking.
How does mail differ from email?
Mail is physical, while email is digital.
Is email faster than regular mail?
Typically, yes, as it's sent instantly over the internet.
What does email stand for?
Electronic mail.
How do I secure my emails?
Use strong passwords, encryption, and reputable email services.
What’s the cost of sending an email vs. mail?
Emails are typically free; mail costs vary by item and distance.
Can emails have attachments?
Yes, files or documents can be attached to emails.
Which is more eco-friendly: email or mail?
Email doesn't use paper, but both have environmental impacts.
Is email always reliable?
Mostly, but emails can sometimes land in spam or be delayed.
Do businesses still use mail?
Yes, many businesses use mail for official documents and marketing.
Why do some prefer mail over email?
For its tactile nature, sentimentality, or perceived reliability.
Can I retrieve a sent email?
In some cases, yes, but it depends on the email platform and timing.
Is there a risk of emails getting "lost"?
Rarely, but they can end up in spam or not get delivered due to errors.
Are there size limits to emails?
Yes, most providers limit email and attachment sizes.
How do I organize my mail?
Using filing systems, labels, or dedicated storage areas.
How long does email storage last?
It depends on the service, but many emails can be stored indefinitely.
How do postal services handle international mail?
Through partnerships with foreign postal entities and customs checks.
Can both email and mail be used officially?
Yes, both can serve official purposes, depending on the context.
What's the origin of the word "mail"?
It comes from Middle English, related to the word "mal," meaning "bag."
Is handwritten mail still popular?
Yes, many people value the personal touch of handwritten mail.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
