• Business Insider asked an etiquette expert what employees should avoid ordering at work events.
• She said it's best to stay away from anything too expensive or difficult to eat.
• It's also important to limit your alcohol intake in front of colleagues, she said.

Although business lunches, dinners, and happy hours are great opportunities to network and get to know your colleagues better, the way you handle the meal can leave a lasting impression.

To help you avoid any big mistakes, Business Insider asked an etiquette expert, Mariah Grumet Humbert, about the things you should avoid ordering in front of coworkers. Here's what she said.

Overly expensive meals

When dining at a work event, it's best to avoid ordering the most expensive dish on the menu. This includes seasonal items, which can be more expensive out of season, or fancier meals such as steaks or lobster.

Grumet Humbert also said to err on the side of caution when you don't know the price of a special or market-priced dish.

Too much food

Similarly, Grumet Humbert said it's best not to order a wide variety of items, as this will increase the bill.

That's why she suggests following the lead of the person hosting the get-together. For example, if they're ordering multiple courses, having more than just a salad is probably OK.

But if the host is ordering one course, opting for multiple menu items can be impolite.

Excessive amounts of alcohol

Alcohol can be tricky to navigate in professional settings. But whether you choose to drink or not, it's best to put your professional image first.

"When too much alcohol is consumed, you're not able to represent yourself in the best way," Grumet Humbert told BI. "It could lead to potential tricky conversations, perhaps showing yourself in a light that you don't want to in a professional realm."

Meals that are difficult to eat

It's also important to order something that will allow you to talk with your colleagues and doesn't feel difficult to eat.

For example, it's best to avoid anything that's too messy or requires a lot of effort to enjoy.

Instead, Grumet Humbert suggests ordering something you know you'll like that's also relatively simple to pick up. This way, the focus can remain on the conversation.

• Business Insider asked an etiquette expert what employees should avoid doing when sending an email.
• When writing an email, it's best practice to include both an appropriate greeting and a closing.
• It's also important to send email updates, especially when you're unable to meet a deadline on time.

From typing in all caps to hitting reply-all unnecessarily, professionals often make subtle missteps when drafting work emails.

Although most of these faux pas are innocent, some mistakes can lead to misunderstandings at work and even impact relationships between coworkers.

That's why Business Insider sat down with business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore to discuss the mistakes to avoid when drafting an email at work.

Here are some of the common mistakes she sees people make.

Including a vague subject line

A well-crafted subject line can determine whether your email gets opened or ignored.

Whitmore told BI that when drafting an email, the subject line needs to be "short, simple, and specific."

This ensures you're not wasting anyone's time and getting your point across simply and effectively.

Using the wrong tone in an email response

When responding to an email, Whitmore said it's good practice to match the tone of the person you're replying to.

For example, some people are more formal, while others are OK with speaking casually.

"If someone addresses you by 'dear so and so,' you would respond in kind by saying 'dear so and so,'" Whitmore told BI.

Alternatively, if the person you're responding to said a simple "hi" in their greeting, you can reply similarly, keeping the conversation more casual.

Skipping the greeting and closing

Although you may be eager to jump straight into your email and send it off, it's best practice to include both a greeting and a closing in your message.

"I always put a greeting whenever I'm corresponding with somebody for the first time," Whitmore said.

Similarly, when closing out an email, she said to include a proper sign-off along with your name and signature.

"Even though the signature may be electronically produced at the bottom with your first and last name, your title, and your company, it's still advisable to end your email with 'best regards' or 'thank you' with your name," Whitmore said.

Using the wrong title or pronouns

When drafting an email to someone you don't know, it's best not to guess their gender.

Whitmore explained that if she doesn't know the person and is unsure of their gender or pronouns, she tries to look them up first. If she can't find information on how they'd like to be addressed, she uses their first name to err on the side of caution.

Forgetting to proofread before pressing send

Before sending off your draft, it's always best to manually proofread the message.

"One of the things that I recommend, especially with very important emails, is that you read it out loud. Sometimes I'll even print it out and go through each word with a pen because if it's really important, every word counts," Whitmore said.

Spell check doesn't always catch every error, so reading the message on your own is an important step in the process.

Sending an email while angry

Although it might feel good in the moment, make sure you're not drafting work emails while angry.

"There are some times where you may feel like just sending an email and just getting it off your desk, but if you're angry, or you're upset, or you're emotional, it's best to wait," Whitmore said.

Instead, she suggests delaying the message or not sending it at all.

"If you do compose that email, fill out the "to" line last, that way, you don't accidentally send it," Whitmore told BI.

Forgetting to send relevant updates

It's important to send email updates, especially when you're unable to meet a deadline on time.

"If you've promised something and it doesn't happen or you can't complete it by a certain date, just let the person know you received their email and that you're working on it, and then you'll get it to them by a certain date," Whitmore said.

A quick update can minimize frustration and confusion with those you're working with.