This dissertation examines the social affordances of workplace email use. Through group and individual interviews of six knowledge workers in a distributed real estate firm, it explores the extent workplace writers recognize and rely on extra-textual devices (i.e., copy, blind-copy, and forward devices) and email applications (i.e., email application on a desktop computer versus the email application on a handheld mobile device) to convey socially symbolic messages. These research findings are discussed in concert with previous research from several disciplines in order to construct a theory of social affordances, which claims socially constructed symbols embedded in specific uses of technology are a very crucial part of communicating with technology. This dissertation concludes that an understanding of social affordances in workplace email is a crucial component to technological literacy and can even contribute to career success or failure. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]