Difference Between
versus

Email vs. Mail: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 26, 2023
Email is a digital method of sending messages electronically over the internet, while mail refers to the physical delivery of letters and packages through postal services.
Email vs. Mail

Key Differences

Email is transmitted digitally via the internet, allowing for instant communication. Mail, in contrast, is a physical medium, involving the delivery of tangible items like letters and parcels.
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Dec 26, 2023
Emails are delivered almost instantly anywhere in the world, making them highly efficient for quick communication. Physical mail takes longer, depending on the distance and postal service efficiency.
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Dec 26, 2023
Sending an email is generally free, requiring only internet access. Sending physical mail involves postage costs and relies on access to postal services.
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Dec 26, 2023
Emails are commonly used for both personal and formal communications, adapting to various needs. Physical mail is often perceived as more formal or personal, especially for official documents or special occasions.
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Dec 26, 2023
Emails have a lower environmental impact, reducing paper usage and physical transportation. Physical mail contributes to paper usage and requires transportation, impacting the environment.
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Dec 26, 2023
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Comparison Chart

Transmission

Digital, via the internet
Physical, through postal services
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Delivery Speed

Instant or near-instant
Varies, often slower
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Cost

Generally free, requires internet
Involves postage costs
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Common Use

Both formal and informal communications
Often formal, official documents, special occasions
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Environmental Impact

Lower, minimal physical resources
Higher, uses paper and transportation
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Email and Mail Definitions

Email

A means of communication used for both personal and business purposes.
They use email for daily team updates.
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Dec 26, 2023

Mail

Physical correspondence delivered by postal services.
They received their tax documents in the mail.
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Dec 26, 2023

Email

Electronic mail, a system for sending messages via the internet.
She sent an email to confirm the meeting details.
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Dec 26, 2023

Mail

A service for sending and receiving letters and packages.
The holiday cards were sent through the mail.
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Dec 26, 2023

Email

A format for sending text, images, and documents electronically.
She checked her email first thing every morning.
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Mail

The act of sending letters and parcels via a postal system.
They mail their newsletters to subscribers.
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Dec 26, 2023

Email

A digital method of exchanging messages and files.
He received an important email attachment.
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Dec 26, 2023

Mail

Materials, such as letters and packages, handled in a postal system
The volume of mail increases around the holidays.
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Oct 19, 2023

Email

An electronic message sent over a computer network.
I got an email about the upcoming sale.
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Dec 26, 2023

Mail

Postal material for a specific person or organization
Could you pick up my mail at the office?.
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Oct 19, 2023

Email

A system for sending and receiving messages electronically over a computer network.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

Material processed for distribution from a post office at a specified time
Delivered the morning mail around town.
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Oct 19, 2023

Email

A message or messages sent or received by such a system.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

A postal system. Used with the, sometimes in the plural
Used the mail to send the supplies.
Advertisements sent through the mails.
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Oct 19, 2023

Email

To send (someone) an email
I'll email you when I know my schedule.
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Mail

Chiefly British A vehicle by which mail is transported.
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Email

To send (a message) by email.
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Mail

Mail or messages sent electronically; email.
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Email

(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.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

Flexible armor composed of small overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales.
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Email

(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!
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

The protective covering of certain animals, as the shell of a turtle.
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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.
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Mail

Rent, payment, or tribute.
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Email

An email address.
What’s your email?
Don’t send personal messages to my work email.
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Mail

To send by a postal system
Mailed the letter yesterday.
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Email

.
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Mail

To send letters and other material by a postal system.
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Oct 19, 2023

Email

(transitive) To send an email or emails to.
She emailed me last week, asking about the status of the project.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

To cover or armor with mail.
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Email

To send (something) through email.
I’ll email you the link.
He emailed the file out to everyone.
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Mail

A bag or wallet.
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Email

(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.
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Mail

A bag containing letters to be delivered by post.
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Email

(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
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Mail

The material conveyed by the postal service.
Don't forget to pick up the mail on your way.
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Email

Communicate electronically on the computer;
She e-mailed me the good news
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Mail

(dated) A stagecoach, train or ship that delivers such post.
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Mail

The postal service or system in general.
He decided to send his declaration by mail.
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Mail

The letters, parcels, etc. delivered to a particular address or person.
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Mail

(uncountable) Electronic mail, e-mail: a computer network–based service for sending, storing, and forwarding electronic messages.
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Mail

A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
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Mail

(uncountable) Armour consisting of metal rings or plates linked together.
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Mail

(nautical) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
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Mail

Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
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Mail

A spot on a bird's feather; by extension, a spotted feather.
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Mail

(historical) An old French coin worth half a denier.
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Mail

A monetary payment or tribute.
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Mail

Rent.
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Mail

Tax.
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Mail

(ditransitive) To send (a letter, parcel, etc.) through the mail.
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Mail

(ditransitive) To send by electronic mail.
Please mail me the spreadsheet by the end of the day.
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Mail

(transitive) To contact (a person) by electronic mail.
I need to mail my tutor about the deadline.
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Mail

(transitive) To arm with mail.
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Mail

(transitive) To pinion.
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Mail

A spot.
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Mail

A small piece of money; especially, an English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V.
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Mail

Rent; tribute.
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Mail

A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor.
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Mail

Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.
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Mail

A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

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.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

A bag; a wallet.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

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.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried.
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

To arm with mail.
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Mail

To pinion.
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Mail

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.
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Mail

The bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
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Mail

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'
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Mail

A conveyance that transports mail
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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
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

(Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

Send via the postal service;
I'll mail you the check tomorrow
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
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Oct 19, 2023

Mail

The system of transporting letters and parcels through a postal service.
He sent the package via priority mail.
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Dec 26, 2023

Mail

Items sent or delivered through a postal system.
She checked the mailbox for any new mail.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries

Can emails include attachments?

Yes, emails can include various attachments like documents and images.
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What is an email?

An email is a digital message sent electronically via the internet.
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Dec 26, 2023

How fast is email compared to mail?

Email is almost instantaneous, while mail delivery time varies.
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Dec 26, 2023

What does mail refer to?

Mail refers to the physical delivery of letters and packages through postal services.
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Dec 26, 2023

Is mail still used for official documents?

Yes, mail is often used for official documents due to its physical nature.
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Dec 26, 2023

Can emails be sent internationally?

Yes, emails can be sent internationally with no extra cost.
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Dec 26, 2023

How does the cost of sending mail compare to email?

Sending mail involves postage costs, while email is usually free.
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Dec 26, 2023

Is it easier to organize emails or physical mail?

Organizing emails is generally easier due to digital sorting and searching capabilities.
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How do spam emails compare to junk mail?

Both are unsolicited, but spam emails are more prevalent due to lower sending costs.
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Dec 26, 2023

Can both email and mail be used for marketing?

Yes, both are used in marketing, each with different strategies and impacts.
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Dec 26, 2023

Are emails secure?

Emails can be secure, but it depends on the encryption and security measures used.
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Dec 26, 2023

Is it possible to send money via email?

You can’t send physical money via email, but you can send digital payments.
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Dec 26, 2023

Is handwritten mail more personal?

Handwritten mail is often perceived as more personal than an email.
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Dec 26, 2023

Can emails be automated?

Yes, emails can be automated, such as in marketing campaigns.
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Dec 26, 2023

How has email affected postal services?

Email has reduced the volume of traditional letters, impacting postal services.
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Dec 26, 2023

What role does mail play in legal communications?

Mail is often used for legal communications due to its formal and documented nature.
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Dec 26, 2023

Can mail be tracked?

Yes, many postal services offer tracking for mailed packages.
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Dec 26, 2023

Are emails environmentally friendly?

Emails are more environmentally friendly compared to physical mail.
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Dec 26, 2023

What is snail mail?

Snail mail is a colloquial term for traditional postal mail, implying it’s slower than email.
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Dec 26, 2023

Can mail be private and confidential?

Mail can be private, but it requires secure handling and delivery methods.
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Dec 26, 2023

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About Author
Shumaila Saeed
Written by
Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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