A new study conducted by Indian researchers shows women are more polite in their e-mails than men in the same work team. The researchers Asha Kaul and Vaibhavi Kulkarni, from IIM, Ahmedabad, in their research "Coffee, Tea or...?" found that while everyone was generally polite, women were more polite than men. the study, which focussed on the influence of gender and politeness on writing style in Computer Mediated Communication (CMC), analysed 494 e-mails - 250 written by men and 244 by women.

"The e-mails written by women showed a higher degree of adherence to principles of politeness than those written by men. Also, the literature on language pattern employed by women indicates hesitancy in approach, agreements and acceptance, acknowledgement," say Kaul and Kulkarni in the report, posted on IIM, Ahmedabad's website.

"Tact and approbation were two positive politeness maxims used frequently by both men and women. However, there was higher persistence of approbation and maxim among males," it says. Also, men used flattery more than women in their e-mails. The e-mails communicated praise and approval of the recipient's actions. However, this finding contradicts the existing literature which points to the fact that as compared to men, women tend to praise and appreciate the recipient more.

The researchers say e-mails written by women showed hesitancy to openly contradict or disagree. The e-mail were more appeasing and tentative rather than firm and clear. The finding coincides with the existing literature that women tend to qualify and justify their assertions and have a tendency to apologize, express support of others and manifest an aligned orientation towards their interlocutors.

Another interesting finding from the analysis of e-mails is that men attempted 'bonding' through the use of approbation while women attempted bonding by making 'inane talk.' "The men played the role of the head in a patriarchic society, praising and motivating, which is typical of the Indian culture and women indulged in "relationship building" by inquiring about the well-being of the recipient, family members etc before moving on to work related topics.

"Adoption of this tactic is in line with the nurturing role assigned to women, say researchers.