Course Catalog / BMU 010 / Lesson 3 of 5

BMU 010

Halfway review

1. What three things make a strong password?

See the answer

Long, random, and unique.

2. Which apps can scan on an iPhone?

See the answer

Notes or Files.

3. What goes in a good file name?

See the answer

Your last name, what it is, and the month and year.

Why this matters

You scanned the page. Now you need to send it. A clear email gets read and acted on. A blank email with no subject may get lost.

In this lesson you will attach a file, write a clear subject line, and write a short message.

Start with what you already do

You already know how to send a text. Email adds a subject line and attachments.

Common belief: The file says it all, so I do not need to write anything.

What is actually true: A short message tells the reader who you are and what you sent. Without it, they may not know what to do with the file.

Key words

attachment

A file you add to an email, like a PDF or photo.

subject line

The short title of an email that shows in the inbox.

size limit

The biggest file an email can carry. Gmail's limit is 25 MB.

Attach the file

1. Start a new email.
2. Tap the paper clip or Attach button.
3. Find your PDF by its name and tap it.
4. Check that it shows at the bottom of the email.

Google says personal Gmail accounts can send attachments up to 25 MB. For bigger files, like videos, share them with Google Drive instead.

Write a clear subject

A strong subject says what is attached, what it is for, and your name.

Write a short message

Use three parts: a greeting, one or two lines on what you sent and why, and your name and phone number.

Check before you tap Send

• Is the address right?
• Is the file attached?
• Does the subject say what it is?
• Send a test to yourself first if you are not sure.

The FTC warns that scammers send emails with fake links and attachments. Only open attachments you expect. BMU 050 Spot the Scam teaches more.

Text version of this figure

Send it right. Four checks before you send.

1. Step 1, Right address: Check every letter.
2. Step 2, File attached: Look for it at the bottom.
3. Step 3, Clear subject: What, what for, and your name.
4. Step 4, Short message: Greeting, what and why, your name.
5. Send: Or send a test to yourself first.

Source: Gmail Help; FTC (Oct 29, 2026).

Worked example: Andre's email

• To: the leasing office address from the flyer.
• Subject: Pay stub for apartment 4B application, Andre Brooks
• Message: Hello, I attached my October pay stub for my application. Please let me know if you need anything else. Andre Brooks, 555 0100
• Attachment: Brooks Pay Stub Oct 2026.pdf

Andre and the phone number are made up.

Worked example 2: Rosa checks her email before she sends it

Rosa writes to a new job. Before she taps Send, she does the four checks.

• Address: she typed hr@ in front of the wrong company name. She fixes it from the job post.
• File: there is no file at the bottom. She attaches Lopez Resume Oct 2026.pdf.
• Subject: it says hi. She changes it to Resume for front desk job, Rosa Lopez.
• Message: she adds a greeting, one line on what she sent, and her name and phone number.

Then she sends a test to herself first, opens it, and sees the file. Rosa is a made up example.

Practice: Find the problems

Read this made up draft. Name what is wrong, using the four checks.

1. To: the clinic address, but one letter is missing.
2. Subject: (no subject)
3. Message: here
4. Attachment: none, even though the message says the form is attached.

Check your practice: feedback

1. Fix the address. Copy it from the clinic's letter or website.
2. Add a subject with what, what for, and your name. For example: Patient form for Nov 12 visit, Sam Lee.
3. Write a greeting, what you sent and why, and your name and phone number.
4. Attach the file and look for it at the bottom before you send.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the attachment. Attach first, then write.
• Leaving the subject blank. Say what it is and who you are.
• Opening attachments you did not expect. Ask the sender another way first.

Check your understanding

Take it as many times as you like. Pick an answer, then open the feedback.

1. Which subject line is clearest?

1. Please read this
2. Lease form, Unit 2, Ana Ruiz
3. Lease

See the answer and feedback

B is correct. Yes. It says what, what for, and who.

A: It does not say what the email is about. Review Write a clear subject.

C: Better, but it does not say which lease or who sent it. Review Write a clear subject.

2. Your video is too big for Gmail. What does Google suggest?

1. Share it with Drive
2. Zip it and attach it
3. Send it as a text message instead

See the answer and feedback

A is correct. Yes. Use Google Drive for large files.

B: Zipping barely shrinks a video. Share it with a Drive link. Review Attach the file.

C: Texts shrink or block big videos too. Share it with a Drive link. Review Attach the file.

3. You get an email with an attachment you did not expect. What should you do?

1. Open it now
2. Forward it
3. Check with the sender another way

See the answer and feedback

C is correct. Yes. Scammers use fake attachments.

A: It may be a scam. Review Check before you tap Send.

B: That spreads the risk. Review Check before you tap Send.

Next up

Next you will join a video call. Go to Lesson 4: Video calls without stress.

Stuck or have a question? Ask BMU Learner Support.

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