Awesome Gmail Tip You Need to Know

A Surprisingly Useful Gmail Trick

Even after extensive use, Gmail continues to reveal hidden functionalities. Despite publishing numerous Gmail tips and tools in previous roundups – over 30 in Gmail RoundUp 1 and nearly 80 in Gmail RoundUp 2 – this particular feature hadn't been previously highlighted.

Credit for discovering this goes to someone who doesn't consider themselves tech-savvy, my girlfriend.

Email Address Variations and Forwarding

Consider an email address like 'GeorgeBush@gmail.com'. Any email sent to a multitude of variations of this address will be reliably delivered to the primary inbox.

These variations include, but aren't limited to:

• • GeorgeBush@gmail.com
  • G.eorgeBush@gmail.com
  • Ge.orgeBush@gmail.com
• • GeorgeBus.h@gmail.com

The same principle applies to the googlemail.com domain.

• • GeorgeBush@googlemail.com
  • G.eorgeBush@googlemail.com
  • Ge.orgeBush@googlemail.com
• • GeorgeBus.h@googlemail.com

Unlimited Dot Usage

Furthermore, the number of dots used within the username is unrestricted. You can insert as many periods as desired, such as 'G.e.o.r.g.e.B.u.s.h@gmail.com', and the email will still be successfully routed to 'GeorgeBush@gmail.com'.

This provides a flexible way to manage and receive emails, even with slight variations in how the address is entered.

Leveraging a Hidden Feature of Your Gmail Address

A recently discovered technique allows for the inclusion of arbitrary text within your email identifier by utilizing the plus (+) symbol. Essentially, an address like 'GeorgeBush+anytext@gmail.com' functions identically to your standard Gmail address.

Now that this is understood, what practical applications exist?

1. Streamlining Email Management with Unique Identifiers

Rather than creating multiple Gmail accounts for diverse needs – such as professional correspondence, academic pursuits, or personal contacts – you can employ variations of your primary Gmail address. Incoming messages can then be efficiently categorized based on the 'sent to' address.

For example, all emails directed to 'Name.Surname@gmail.com' could be automatically sorted into a 'work' folder, while those sent to 'NameSurname@gmail.com' are filed under 'friends'. 'N.ameSurname@gmail.com' could be designated for newsletter subscriptions, and so forth.

2. Identifying and Blocking Unsolicited Email

When registering on a website, such as thatwebsite.com, incorporating the website's name into your Gmail identifier (e.g., GeorgeBush+thatwebsite@gmail.com) is a useful practice. This enables you to easily block subscriptions and pinpoint websites that may be sharing your email address with third parties.

UPDATE:

Fellow Gmail users, an additional valuable resource has been identified. A Gmail Cheat Sheet is available for download, providing a comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts.

Mastering these shortcuts can significantly enhance your efficiency, and many are intuitive enough to require minimal memorization. A printable, single-page shortcut sheet can be accessed here.

Further suggestions are welcome; please share your ideas in the comments section.