New York ? Here are four instances when it would be wise to reach for the phone instead of sending an e-mail, according to David Shipley and Will Schwalbe, authors of “Send: The Essential Guide to E-mail for Office and Home.”:

¢ Expressing emotions. It’s tough to convey the subtle nuances of emotion over e-mail. If you’re dealing with a sensitive topic, one badly phrased e-mail can quickly ignite a firestorm, so make a phone call instead.

¢ Keeping things confidential. If you wouldn’t be comfortable having the e-mail passed around, that’s a good indication that you should make a phone call.

¢ Immediate response required. A quick phone call is more likely to get you the answer you require in a timely manner.

¢ Testing the waters. Whether you’re trying to heal a rift with a co-worker or reach out to a new business contact, it’s always better to err on the side of politeness. And nothing says respect like taking the time out of your day to pick up the phone.