Internet-style quoting consists of putting a > or other character in front of the original message when you reply or forward it. Recipients can easily distinguish the original message from your comments. This method is preferred on many Internet mailing lists that transmit in plain text only
The default setting in current versions of Outlook in no quoting, no indentation. This can be changed to use a quote prefix, indent quoted messages, or attach quoted messages. We do not recommend using the Indent or Attach options.
Note that the quote prefix character (usually “>”) is applied only to plain text messages. When you enable this option and reply to an HTML message, the quoted message is prefaced with a blue line.
Outlook 98 or later | Other Tools | Notes | More Information
Outlook 2010
- Choose File, Options, Mail
- In the Replies and forwards section (about halfway down the dialog), choose Prefix each line of the original message.
- Enter the desired prefix character in the Preface each line in a plain text message with: field.
We highly recommend using > as the character as its the commonly accepted quote-prefix.
Outlook 2007 to Outlook 98
- Choose Tools | Options. On the Preferences tab, click E-mail Options.
- Under When replying to a message and When forwarding a message, choose Prefix each line of the original message.
- Set the prefix character(s) under Prefix each line with.
- Click OK twice.
Tools
Provides automatic coloring of lines of text, depending on the nesting level of correspondence in replies and forwarded emails allows you to look over your e-mail messages more quickly and easily manage incoming e-mail. | |
Microsoft Word 97 template that includes a macro for adding a ">" in front of text to follow the Internet convention for quoting from incoming messages. May not work with Outlook 2000; to try it, rename the current Email.dot template (use Start, Find to locate it) then move and rename the quoting template so that it becomes the new Email.dot. | |
Exchange/Outlook add-on to create custom replies, forwards, signatures -- inserting any type of boilerplate text into your message. Templates are stored in Outlook or Exchange folders and can contain scripting elements (in VBScript or ET's own script language) to build replies that use information from the incoming message. Various extensions can handle such tasks as mailing list subscriptions. For a rotating quote, download the Rotating Text template. Has some issues with Outlook 2002 -- make sure you get the latest update, disable RTF templates, and don't try to use ET as a custom action in Rules Wizard. | |
Cleans up plain text replies and forwards by tightening the quoting characters, allowing you to specify the quote header, and moving the cursor to the bottom of the message. Beta. Free. |
Notes
Quoted text is not excluded from spell check in older versions and under certain circumstances. This should work as expected in Outlook 2007 and up.
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Last reviewed on Apr 13, 2012
Wrong instructions for Outlook 2007. In the Options tab there is no such thing as Preferences tab and email options.
Will search the Internet for better information.
Um… where are you looking? There *is* a Preference tab in Tools, Options (its the default tab) and it has Email options on it. (Will add a screenshot to the instructions.)