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# Gmail: How to Automatically Organize Emails With Filters
- URL: https://www.jeffsu.org/newsletter-261/
- Published: 2026-08-28T05:29:02.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-28T05:29:01.000Z
- Description: #261
- Author: Jeff
- Tags: #newsletter, Gmail

*Want to see these tips early?* [*Subscribe to the newsletter*](https://www.jeffsu.org/newsletter/)*!*

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Hey friends, today, I’ve got three of my favorite time-saving tips for Gmail so let’s just dive right in! 😁

### Tip #1: Forward the whole thread

Someone forwards you a 14-email thread with one “FYI” at the top (how much lazier can you get? Come on), and now you’re reading the entire thread backwards.

Don’t be that guy (or gal).

**Here’s what to do instead:**

1. Open the thread.
2. Click **More** in the top toolbar.
3. Select **Forward all**.
4. Add the recipients and send.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2026/08/image-2.png)

The recipient gets the complete conversation in one message.

### Tip #2: Narrow a search with chips

You probably already know how to use Gmail’s search bar to find specific emails, BUT you also probably had to try a few times before finding the specific email you were looking for.

**Here’s what to do next time:**

1. Run one basic search first by entering a word from the message in the search bar (you only need one rough term to start).
2. Press **Enter**.
3. Choose a chip such as **From**, **Any time**, or **Has attachment**.
4. Add another chip if the list is still too long.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/85/db858a9d-1c4f-4993-8042-faa87b9bb3c1/content/images/2026/08/image-3.png)

You can narrow thousands of messages without guessing the exact search syntax.

### Tip #3: Sort incoming mail with a + address

I’ve talked about this before but I use `jeff+newsletters@gmail.com` when I sign up for newsletters (it still lands in my normal inbox).

By the same logic, you can use the same pattern with your address by adding `+category` before the `@`, and then creating a filter for that variation!

For example:

1. For all your travel-related notifications (e.g. flight and hotel confirmations), you can sign up using something like “jeff+travel@gmail.com”
2. Create a filter where all emails sent to “[jeff+travel@gmail.com](mailto:jeff+travel@gmail.com)” get tagged with a “Travel” label

Those messages now sort themselves as soon as they arrive.

### Bonus shortcut: Clear pasted formatting

If pasted text brings old formatting into a draft, select it and press **`CMD/CTRL + \`** to clear it (much faster than fixing each style manually).

Try one of these this week and let me know how it goes! 😁

---

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