# Any way to test email address validity? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 6, 2006, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-test-email-address-validity/363341 "2006-07-06T08:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-test-email-address-validity/363341/1 "2006-07-06T08:05:53Z")
Situation: I meet someone on holiday, and she gives me her email addresses for future correspondance. I copy the address down incorrectly, but I know roughly what it should be… ie. it’s either [user@family16.host.com](mailto:user@family16.host.com) [user@family.host16.com](mailto:user@family.host16.com) user@family\_16.host.com and so on… Question: Is there any way I can confirm which addresses are valid, without pinging an email directly via outlook etc? I was thinking along the lines of the “ping” command for IP addresses - could I send a request to “[family16.host.com](http://family16.host.com)” and see whether it is recognised? ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-test-email-address-validity/363341/2 "2006-07-06T08:16:45Z")
There are many e-mail verifying tools available as either shareware or trialware. This is the one that I’ve used in the past : > **[Email Verifier | Check Email Validity with Email Verification Software](https://www.glocksoft.com/email-verifier/)** > > Our email verification software is simple to use and helps you quickly eliminate invalid emails. Improve Your Email Deliverability now. Try it for free! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-test-email-address-validity/363341/3 "2006-07-06T08:19:33Z")
There’s a solution [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=377343). ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-test-email-address-validity/363341/4 "2006-07-06T08:38:31Z")
Thanks both, that’s what I was after 🙂