How to Format Gmail Quoted Replies

Whenever you chose to reply, Gmail adds the original message below your mail as an indented quote. You cannot do much customizations with Gmail quoted replies but there are few formatting techniques that we can use to draft better replies.
#. How to remove greater than symbol “>” from mail trails?
When mail conversations happen between various programs (Gmail, Outlook, Apple), each of them apply a special character to indicate start of the original message and its depth in hierarchy. Outlook prefixes each line with greater than symbol “>” while Apple uses Vertical Bar “|” which makes quoted content distinctive but also difficult to read.
To remove these characters, head over to this or this tool. Paste your content and format it to original readable text.
#. How to remove quoted entire mail chain while replying?
Unfortunately, you will have to manually remove the entire reply chain. First click on 3 dots to display entire chain, then press Ctrl+A to select all text and then press delete key. I wish there was a easy way to not quote text as in Gmail’s android app.
#. How to include your signature before quoted reply?
By default, Gmail will include your signature at end of the mail which will be mostly ignored. If you want to include it just after your reply, go to Gmail settings > General > Signature section and select the option “Insert this signature before quoted text in replies and remove the dashes that precedes it”
#. How to quote only a specific part of the mail or reply inline?
Often, quoting entire mail content is unnecessary and we just need to include only few lines in our reply. In such situations of replying inline, we should make use of “Quote Selected Text” lab feature.
Go to Gmail Setting > Labs and enable “Quote Selected Text”. Save and then refresh Gmail’s window.
Now, highlight the words you want to quote and then click the reply button. Only the selected words will be quoted.
#. How to reply automatically only to selected email addresses?
Vacation auto-responder replies to all the incoming mails. But if you want to selectively auto- reply only to few people, then you can use the canned response feature along with filters.
First, go to Gmail settings > Labs and enable Canned Response feature. Save settings and refresh the page. Now, go to Gmail settings > Filters and create a new filter by specifying email addresses and then selecting “Send Canned Response” in next screen.
Once the filter is set up, your mailbox will automatically reply to selected email addresses.
#. Can replies be tracked?
Yes, you can track if your email has been read or not.
#. How to strike through text when you reply
The only method is to strike through the text in Microsoft Word or other word utility and then paste it in Gmail’s reply box. Though this method is painful, but unfortunately it’s the only trick in the box.
# Can you use more fonts than provided in Gmail?
Yes, you can use all Windows fonts in Gmail by following our guide to change default fonts in Gmail. But please be cautious that the recipients also uses Windows else the message text will get garbled.
We also have few more articles that will help you with Gmail:
#. Scheduling emails
#. Setting self-reminding emails
#. Using multiple “From” addresses
#. Make “Reply to All” as default option
#. Delegating emails
What I’d really like to know is how to completely disable the standard Gmail reply with tiered emails, goofy purple font and a weird one-line header.
I use Outlook + Gmail for Business for work and it really breaks the professional tone when the format changes this drastically between responses. Honestly, this format is unprofessional to begin with.
The aggravating thing:
I can duplicate just that by hitting Forward and changing to Reply. It should NOT be a difficult fix to code.
Go to Gmail Setting > Labs and enable “Quote Selected Text”. Save and then refresh Gmail’s window.
Unfortunately, Google, in their lack of wisdom, have retired Quote Select Text.
Unfortunately yes, but I notice that it still works for me.
Quote Selected Text is still in labs but no longer works. Gmail for some reason wants to force us to repeat the same text over and over and over and over with >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They must have invested in the > We group emails. We do not need to repeat more than an occasional quote. Gmail… dumb in this case.
There’s a chrome extension that kind of does this now: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/reformat-gmail-inline-quo/akndolpagcjaolannkpophkacklomagp
Hi,
Annoyingly, GMail inserts two (2) blank lines between my signature
and a quoted Sender’s email. I am constantly deleting them to make
reading easier and save space.
EXAMPLE . . .
Dear XXX,
My reply, my reply, my reply.
JD
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE- This email and any files transmitted with it are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed and may contain confidential and or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from your computer. Please note that any view or opinions presented in this e-mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of any individual, entity or Corporation and/or affiliates. Finally, the recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The individual, entity and/or Corporation accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.
© Copyright JD 2021. All rights reserved.
***********************************************************************************************************
(blank line #1)
(blank line #2)
On Wed, Nov 10, 2021 at 11:20 PM XXX wrote:
Dear JD,
Thank you for your message.
XXX
Of course “(blank line #1) & (blank line #2)” are not from GMail.
GMail merely inserts the 2 blank lines; I named them to make
my point :-)
Is there a way to prevent GMail from inserting these 2 blank
lines between my reply and the Sender’s email?
Thanks!