Systems now filter most of the junk mail, but some still gets through. And if there is no system filter set up and your email address has been snared by the email direct marketers, you'll quickly want to set up filters of your own. With email, it is not as simple to quickly identify an important message from a new thread on a listserv. The high priority message from a boss can look disconcertingly similar to junk mail. The filters available from most modern email programs help automate the process of sorting and organizing email messages.
Filters work well in conjunction with the ability to sort and store messages in different folders.
Most email readers utilize the basics of an Inbox, an Outbox, and a Trash folder. Other folders can be established and provide a convenient way to separate family messages from high priority assignments or from listserv mail. Most people use these folders to save email that they expect will have some lasting value or that they will want to read again. A simple filter is already built in to most programs. When copies of sent mail messages are automatically saved in an Outbox or Sent Mail folder, the program is using an outgoing mail filter to accomplish the task.