A kinder, gentler glossary for net neophytes, and others
Cathy Young · Women & Performance a journal of feminist theory · 1996
@ means at, and while it might not be the most important part of an e-mail address, it's definitely the best looking part (certain fonts make it look even better...try typing it in one of the Garamonds, for instance). It separates the user I.D. (the who) from the domain name (the where) sections of an address, giving mail routers the sort of punctuation they need to make sure you receive all those delicious electronic love letters.