Which of the following is not a valid email address?

Appeared in: NIA - 29 January 2023

Explanation

The fundamental structure of any email address is local-part@domain.
The address 'rekha@menon@gmail.com' violates this structure because it contains two '@' symbols.
An email address must have exactly one '@' symbol to correctly separate the recipient's unique identifier from the mail server's domain name.

Option B: This option is a valid email address. The local part ('Chitralekha_123') correctly uses a combination of letters, numbers, and an underscore, which are all permitted characters.
Option C: This option is a valid email address. The use of all uppercase letters in the local part ('NARASIMHA') is syntactically correct according to email format standards.
Option D: This option is a valid email address. The use of a dot ('.') within the local part ('Aniruddha.Banerjee') is a common and valid way to format names, as long as it is not the first or last character.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Email Address Format Validation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In healthcare, accurate communication is critical. Entering an incorrect email address can lead to a breach of patient confidentiality if Protected Health Information (PHI) is sent to the wrong recipient, which is a violation of privacy laws like HIPAA.
Nurses and other healthcare professionals frequently use email for professional correspondence, scheduling, and sharing non-sensitive information. Ensuring the use of valid email formats prevents communication delays and failures.
What if? If the address was 'rekha.menon@gmail.com', it would be a valid email address. The single dot is a permitted character used to separate parts of the local name, and there is only one '@' symbol.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core components of a standard email address: a local part, a single '@' symbol, and a domain part.
Scan each option specifically for the number of '@' symbols. The presence of more than one '@' is the most common and definitive reason for an email address to be invalid.
If all options have one '@', then examine the characters used in the local part and the structure of the domain part.
Check for invalid characters or incorrect placement of characters (e.g., a dot at the beginning or end of the local part).
The option that violates any of these fundamental rules is the correct answer to the 'which is not valid' question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Email Address Format Validation
Stem keywords: email address, valid
Lead-in keywords: not
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the option that is NOT a valid format.

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Practise the full NIA - 29 January 2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.