Which of the following might be a downside of using email for communication?

Using email for communication can indeed lead to misunderstandings. This is primarily because tone and context can be easily misinterpreted in written form. Unlike face-to-face interactions or voice calls, email lacks non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and vocal inflections that help clarify meaning and intent. As a result, messages can be read in a way that differs from what the sender intended, leading to confusion or miscommunication.

Additionally, the written nature of email encourages brevity and can result in ambiguous phrases or incomplete thoughts, further increasing the likelihood of misunderstandings. Therefore, while email has its advantages, such as convenience and record-keeping, the potential for miscommunication is a significant downside.