Gmail - Am I receiving someone else's email?

[DigDoug]

I received another email intended for someone. When you signed up for gmail, didn't it recommend using dots (.) to differentiate??


Am I receiving someone else's email?
Gmail doesn't recognize dots (.) as characters within a username. This way, you can add and remove dots to your username for desired address variations. messages sent to your.username@gmail.com and y.o.u.r.u.s.e.r.n.a.m.e@gmail.com are delivered to the same inbox, since the characters in the username are the same.
Keep in mind that hyphens (-) and underscores (_) can't be used in a Gmail address. Also, usernames are case insensitive, so it doesn't matter if you enter upper case or lower case letters.

If you created your account with a dot in your username and you wish you hadn't, you can change your 'Reply-to address.' To change your reply-to address:

Click 'Settings' at the top of any Gmail page.
Enter your username@gmail.com without a dot in the 'Reply-to address' field.
Click 'Save Changes.'
When you log in to Gmail, you need to enter any dots that were originally defined as part of your username.

[Brad]

If they don't recognize dots in the username, then they shouldn't allow them at all, not just recommend not using them.

[DigDoug]

I think dots and underscores were unique characters before but I'm not sure. If that is the case, then they have really screwed up some people.

[mrn8]

I think it is messed up. I just tested sending an email to my address, but added an random dot into it and I did get it in my inbox. This could cause a lot of issues for people. My wife's address has a dot in it, now that I think of it.

[Brad]

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060120-6022.html


As it turns out, even though Gmail will act as if there is no period in a username when delivering mail, it will not permit users to register accounts whose only difference to other account is a period. That is, if bob.jones is registered, bobjones cannot get an account (he could get bobjones2, obviously).