---
title: "Plain-Text Email: Why It Still Matters and How to Ship a Good One"
description: "Plain text is not an auto-generated afterthought - it is part of the send-ready package. What to check before export."
canonical: "https://memo.ly/blog/plain-text-email-production-checklist"
updated: "2026-07-31"
---

# Plain-Text Email: Why It Still Matters and How to Ship a Good One

Plain text is not an auto-generated afterthought - it is part of the send-ready package. What to check before export.

*Guide · 7 min read · Updated 2026-07-31*

Some clients prefer multipart alternatives. Some users choose text-only. Some spam filters notice when HTML screams marketing and plain text is empty. You still need a text part that a human would tolerate reading.

## What good plain text looks like

- Links spelled out or clearly labeled - no mystery “click here” without URL context where needed.
- Merge tags present where personalization matters.
- Logical order if HTML relied on columns - text reads top-to-bottom.
- No HTML entity soup or leftover markup.

## When plain-text generation fails

Treat a failed plain-text compile as a blocking issue - same as a broken link. Memo preflight can surface plain-text compilation failures on the compiled output path.

## FAQ

### Can I skip plain text if I only send HTML?

Some workflows allow it; many providers recommend multipart. Check your sender’s requirements - Memo exports both by default.

### Should plain text match HTML word for word?

Same intent and links, not necessarily identical layout. Text should stand alone.

### Who reviews plain text?

Same reviewer as HTML - on the approved version - before export.

### Does plain text affect deliverability scores?

Memo does not score deliverability. A missing or broken text part is still a production defect worth fixing.

## Related
- [What to check before you send](https://memo.ly/blog/what-to-check-before-you-send.md)

[View HTML version](https://memo.ly/blog/plain-text-email-production-checklist) · [Blog](https://memo.ly/blog)